Cops 'tried to kill me'

2007-03-07 20:34

Luanda - The leader of Angola's largest opposition party said on Wednesday police may have tried to assassinate him and suggested government actions could reopen hostilities with his former rebel movement.

Isaias Samakuva, head of Unita, also said what he called a government campaign to step up pressure on his party could undermine chances of holding fair elections in 2008.

Asked if he thought police or government forces had been behind an apparent attack on a Unita municipal headquarters where he was present on March 2, he said: "My reading is that this was something prepared. I have no doubt about this. What I don't know is if it was prepared to damage or just to frighten."

"With the culture in the country, being the opposition politician, I had no doubt this is something I expected to happen sometime."

Kwata Kanawa, spokesperson for the ruling MPLA, said shots were fired but the incident was under investigation.

"No I don't think there are reasons or motives on either side to return to that environment. The country is calm and stable. It was an act that happened in one province, the rest of the country is calm and peaceful.

Unita is set to face the MPLA, in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, in the country's first legislative elections in more than a decade in 2008, and a presidential poll is scheduled for the following year.

Warnings of new troubles

Samakuva, who like other opposition figures has accused President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of trying to hold on to power by delaying elections twice, said what he called a new government campaign against Unita threatens democracy.

He did not predict an all-out conflict, but warned that troubles could erupt again and undermine the political process.

Unita fought government forces in a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 after its then-leader Jonas Savimbi was killed.

The last elections were in 1992 when the incumbent MPLA defeated Unita in a disputed poll, which eventually led to resumption of hostilities between the bitter opponents.

"I am worried in this regard. Because it happened in 1975 (after Angola gained independence from Portugal). The same thing happened in 1991 (in run up to polls). It's the same pattern," he said.

"The sole difference will be Unita does not have rifles. No arms. There is no ill will on Unita's side. I can't imagine there is one leader of Unita who will handle a gun."

Unita stronghold

The Unita leader's warnings come at a time when Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's largest oil exporter after Nigeria, is enjoying an economic boom.

Samakuva suggested any attack could not have taken place without the police's knowledge, saying his convoy was escorted by security forces and about 80 policemen were stationed around the town, which he called a Unita stronghold.

"We are not far away from one of the national (Unita) secretaries going to jail and it won't be surprising if one day I go to jail. We won't return to war but these kinds of things are escalating," said, Samakuva who has led Unita's transformation to a political party.

"I don't think (people) will be prepared to hold elections if the environment doesn't allow free and fair elections. People are desperate for elections but I believe they won't be well done," he said.

- Reuters