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| 'Vote-rigging' mars Angola poll | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An EU observer has told the BBC there was 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 vote-rigging in Angola, where the ruling MPLA is expected to win a landslide election victory. |
| Richard Howitt said the governing party had offered bribes in one province, while soldiers and MPLA officials appeared to have intimidated voters. | Richard Howitt said the governing party had offered bribes in one province, while soldiers and MPLA officials appeared to have intimidated voters. |
| Other election observers have said the vote was transparent. | Other election observers have said the vote was transparent. |
| With more than two-thirds of the votes counted, the MPLA had 82% and the opposition Unita party 10.5%. | With more than two-thirds of the votes counted, the MPLA had 82% and the opposition Unita party 10.5%. |
| Final provisional results of the parliamentary poll are due later on Monday. | Final provisional results of the parliamentary poll are due later on Monday. |
| 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. |
| Legal challenge | Legal challenge |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Speaking from Brussels after his return from Angola, Mr Howitt told the BBC's Today programme that more than 300 polling stations in the capital did not open or lacked materials. | |
| 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 |
| He welcomed the elections, but said observers should not cover up flaws "that sent warning signals about the kind of government we might see in this country in the future". | He welcomed the elections, but said observers should not cover up flaws "that sent warning signals about the kind of government we might see in this country in the future". |
| The observer mission had heard reports of people being bussed over the border to the Angolan enclave of Cabinda from neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville to vote, he said. | The observer mission had heard reports of people being bussed over the border to the Angolan enclave of Cabinda 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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Transparent vote' | 'Transparent vote' |
| Earlier, observers from the regional grouping, Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said the vote had been "transparent and credible". | Earlier, observers from the regional grouping, Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said the vote had been "transparent and credible". |
| A member of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries observer mission also said that despite logistical problems, the vote had been transparent. | A member of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries observer mission also said that despite logistical problems, the vote had been transparent. |
| Though Unita is challenging the conduct of the poll, party leader Isaias Samakuva said democracy had prevailed. | Though Unita is challenging the conduct of the poll, party leader Isaias Samakuva said democracy had prevailed. |
| "Our country has completed an important step for the consolidation of our fragile democracy," he said. | "Our country has completed an important step for the consolidation of our fragile democracy," he said. |
| "From now on, each government is only going to last four years, not more than 33 years." | "From now on, each government is only going to last four years, not more than 33 years." |
| 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. | The MPLA has ruled Angola since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but it fought a civil war against Unita until 2002. |