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| Observer condemns Angola election | Observer condemns Angola election |
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| An EU observer has told the BBC there was widespread vote-rigging in Angola, where the ruling MPLA is expected to win a landslide election victory. | An EU observer has told the BBC there was widespread vote-rigging in Angola, where the ruling MPLA is expected to win a landslide election victory. |
| Richard Howitt said the governing party had been offering bribes and that soldiers and MPLA officials appeared to have intimidated voters. | Richard Howitt said the governing party had been offering bribes and that soldiers and MPLA officials appeared to have intimidated voters. |
| With more than two-thirds of the votes counted, the MPLA had 82% and the opposition Unita 10.5%. | With more than two-thirds of the votes counted, the MPLA had 82% and the opposition Unita 10.5%. |
| Final provisional results of the parliamentary poll are due shortly. | Final provisional results of the parliamentary poll are due shortly. |
| The elections are the first in Angola for 16 years, and are seen as a crucial step in the country's recovery from decades of civil war. | The elections are the first in Angola for 16 years, and are seen as a crucial step in the country's recovery from decades of civil war. |
| Voting passed off peacefully on Friday, but organisation in parts of the capital, Luanda, was chaotic. | Voting passed off peacefully on Friday, but organisation in parts of the capital, Luanda, was chaotic. |
| I personally saw representatives of the ruling party standing not just in the polling station, but in front of the booths where people were voting Richard Howitt, EU observer mission Angola polls promise changeFrom war amputees to first votersParty mood for peace poll | I personally saw representatives of the ruling party standing not just in the polling station, but in front of the booths where people were voting Richard Howitt, EU observer mission Angola polls promise changeFrom war amputees to first votersParty mood for peace poll |
| Unita has demanded a re-run in Luanda and is challenging the legality of the poll in the constitutional court. | Unita has demanded a re-run in Luanda and is challenging the legality of the poll in the constitutional court. |
| Mr Howitt said there had been "massive hand-outs" of money, televisions, radios, alcohol, and even cars. | Mr Howitt said there had been "massive hand-outs" of money, televisions, radios, alcohol, and even cars. |
| The observer mission had also heard reports of people being shipped over the border from neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville to vote, he said. | The observer mission had also heard reports of people being shipped over the border from neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville to vote, he said. |
| "After a fairly tortuous journey... we came across the most phenomenal scene, where tents, marquees, beds, lavish food was there, and up to 1,500 people, five of whom we interviewed, and gave us evidence that this was all funded by the government." | "After a fairly tortuous journey... we came across the most phenomenal scene, where tents, marquees, beds, lavish food was there, and up to 1,500 people, five of whom we interviewed, and gave us evidence that this was all funded by the government." |
| Voters had to pass soldiers lined up three-deep at the entrance to one polling station, he said. | Voters had to pass soldiers lined up three-deep at the entrance to one polling station, he said. |
| "I personally saw representatives of the ruling party standing not just in the polling station, but in front of the booths where people were voting," Mr Howitt said. | "I personally saw representatives of the ruling party standing not just in the polling station, but in front of the booths where people were voting," Mr Howitt said. |
| Observers from the regional grouping, Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said the vote had been "transparent and credible". | Observers from the regional grouping, Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said the vote had been "transparent and credible". |
| 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. |
| Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital. | Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital. |
| The MPLA has ruled Angola since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but it fought a civil war against Unita until 2002. |