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Angolans vote in landmark polls Angolans vote in landmark polls
(about 1 hour later)
Voting is taking place in Angola in the first parliamentary polls for 16 years.Voting is taking place in Angola in the first parliamentary polls for 16 years.
Although 14 parties are taking part, the contest is primarily between long-term rivals, the ruling MPLA party and opposition Unita party.Although 14 parties are taking part, the contest is primarily between long-term rivals, the ruling MPLA party and opposition Unita party.
Some delays were reported as voting began, and an EU election observer told the BBC that in parts of the capital, Luanda, voting procedures were chaotic.Some delays were reported as voting began, and an EU election observer told the BBC that in parts of the capital, Luanda, voting procedures were chaotic.
The poor but oil-rich nation has been at peace for six years, when 27 years of conflict came to an end. The oil-rich nation has been rebuilding since 2002, when 27 years of civil war came to an end.
As the election got under way, people were reported to have begun queuing at polling stations in Luanda.As the election got under way, people were reported to have begun queuing at polling stations in Luanda.
For the very first time the political parties are not inciting people, especially young people Former child soldier Luis Samakundi From war amputees to first votersParty mood for peace poll
Among those to vote in the capital early on Friday was President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.Among those to vote in the capital early on Friday was President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
But the head of the EU observer mission, Luisa Morgantini, said voting in parts of Luanda had been disorganised.But the head of the EU observer mission, Luisa Morgantini, said voting in parts of Luanda had been disorganised.
"The way in which on the ground things work in Luanda or at least in parts of Luanda is quite problematic," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme."The way in which on the ground things work in Luanda or at least in parts of Luanda is quite problematic," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital's very overcrowded conditions.Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital's very overcrowded conditions.
'Safeguarding peace' 'New era'
The MPLA, which is the dominant political force in the country, is widely expected to win the election and consolidate its hold on power.The MPLA, which is the dominant political force in the country, is widely expected to win the election and consolidate its hold on power.
The electoral campaign was carried out under equal circumstances for all candidates Caetano de SousaElectoral commission head class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7592336.stm">Angola's hi-tech election href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_voters_views_in_angola/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_voters_views_in_angola/html/1.stm', '1220525714', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Angolan voters give their views on the landmark elections href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_voters_views_in_angola/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_voters_views_in_angola/html/1.stm', '1220525714', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
The party is using the poll as a dress rehearsal for next year's planned presidential election, the BBC's Peter Biles in Luanda says.The party is using the poll as a dress rehearsal for next year's planned presidential election, the BBC's Peter Biles in Luanda says.
The president has already been in power for nearly 30 years - longer than Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe.The president has already been in power for nearly 30 years - longer than Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe.
But our correspondent also says there is enormous hope that Angola can be set on a new path, and that democracy and stability can be reinforced. Luis Samakundi, a child soldier in the war told the BBC the election was very important to him.
"For the very first time the political parties are not inciting people, especially young people, to fight against each other," he said.
"Let's hope that the result will be accepted and peace will prevail."
Our correspondent says there is enormous hope that Angola can be set on a new path, and that democracy and stability can be reinforced.
"We believe that Angola is going to begin a new era in the east of the country after so many years of war," said Alcides Sakala, a leading Unita representative.
But he also said Unita was hoping to for more social justice.
"The way wealth is distributed in our country is unjust," he told the BBC.
"Angola is a very rich country but today we have in this country a small group of people getting rich and a large majority without anything. If you go to the countryside you will see that."
Tension
In the lead up to the election, Unita accused the MPLA of intimidating its supporters and dominating state media.In the lead up to the election, Unita accused the MPLA of intimidating its supporters and dominating state media.
There is still some fear among the population Civil rights activist Rafael Marques Angola's hi-tech election
Thursday was the first day in a week that the state newspaper Jornal de Angola carried no front-page picture of Mr Santos.Thursday was the first day in a week that the state newspaper Jornal de Angola carried no front-page picture of Mr Santos.
Angolan voters give their views on the landmark electionsIn pictures
But Caetano de Sousa, head of Angola's electoral commission, said there had been a level playing field.But Caetano de Sousa, head of Angola's electoral commission, said there had been a level playing field.
"The electoral campaign was carried out throughout the country under equal circumstances for all candidates," he said.
He warned the parties to accept the result, saying they had a "moral, social and political duty to safeguard the peace and stability".
These elections are an important move to consolidate democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, after the troubles in Kenya and Zimbabwe this year, our correspondent says.These elections are an important move to consolidate democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, after the troubles in Kenya and Zimbabwe this year, our correspondent says.
Angola's last election in 1992 sparked the second phase of the country's 27-year civil war, which ended in 2002. Angola's last election in 1992 sparked the second phase of the country's 27-year civil war, which ended a decade later.
Rafael Marques, a civil rights activist and journalist who covered the 1992 vote told the BBC there was no danger of a return to war, but tension remained.
"There is still some fear among the population, and to give you a very concrete example even the foreign companies operating in Angola advise their staff not to leave home, some shops have shut down days before [the election]," he said.
Will you be voting? What issues are influencing your vote? If you would be willing to speak to the BBC about your views and experiences, please include your number. It will not be published.Will you be voting? What issues are influencing your vote? If you would be willing to speak to the BBC about your views and experiences, please include your number. It will not be published.
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