Weapons collected ahead of vote
2008-08-12 09:27
Luanda - Angola has begun collecting soldiers' weapons normally kept at home to ensure stability ahead of the country's first elections since the end of a long civil war, state media reported on Monday.
General Francisco Furtado, chief of staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), said he wanted the military to keep a closer eye on weapons storage, Angop news agency said.
"It's not that the FAA is disarming its soldiers, but we need to have greater control of weaponry and guarantee greater security for the maintenance of peace and stability in the country," he said.
The general added that all weapons belonging to the army should be stored at a barracks. Members of the police and army had previously been allowed to keep weapons at home.
Under Angolan law, only members of the armed forces and the police have the right to have weapons.
But in 1992, the government distributed machine guns to civilians in the face of renewed fighting with Unita, an ex-rebel movement that is now the main opposition.
Earlier this year, Angolan authorities stepped up a campaign for the voluntary handing in of weapons by civilians.
The September 5 parliamentary elections will be the first since Angola's 27-year civil war ended in 2002.