Opposition parties cry foul in Angolan election

Early results of Angola’s parliamentary election show the ruling MPLA party on course for a landslide victory, amid allegations of “woeful organisation”. The country’s electoral commission said the president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos has received more than 81 per cent of the vote. UNITA, the largest opposition party, led by Isaias Samakuva, won just over 10 per cent of the vote which UNITA and other parties have condemned as illegitimate.

Voting began on Friday but was extended into Saturday because of delays and confusion at polling stations in Luanda province, home to 21 per cent of Angola’s 8.3 million registered voters. UNITA has vowed to challenge the legality of the poll in court. The MPLA has ruled the former Portuguese colony since independence in 1975.

Copyright © 2010 euronews