[ 2012-05-20 ]

Thousands march after rare Angolan court victory
LUANDA (AFP) - Thousands of people rallied
Saturday in a demonstration by the opposition
Unita, to celebrate a surprise court victory that
forced the national elections chief to step down
months ahead of polls.

Dressed in T-shirts emblazoned with a photo of
Unita boss Isaias Samakuva, with many wearing caps
in the party's trademark red and green, thousands
sang and danced in a plaza in the Angolan
capital.

"Free, fair and transparent elections, respecting
the law," was the slogan of the rally held months
before the polls expected from September.

"We are here to demand that the president of the
republic ensure that the electoral process unfolds
smoothly," Samakuva told the cheering crowds.

"In order for it to go well, everyone must prepare
to vote but also to protect their votes," he
said.

Unita put the crowds at 10,000, but there was no
official estimate from police. Samakuva said more
rallies could take place as the election nears.

The party organised similar rallies in Angola's
main cities, originally to press its demand for
elections chief Suzana Ingles to step down,
arguing that she didn't meet the legal
requirements to hold the job.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed and ordered
her to vacate her post leading the National
Electoral Commission.

The ruling caught many by surprise in a nation
where the ruling MPLA -- in power since
independence from Portugal in 1975 -- has seen few
challenges to its power.

Unita, a former rebellion that battled the
government for decedes in a devastating civil war
-- decided to carry on with the rallies to
celebrate its court victory.

This year's election will be only the third in
Angola's history.

The first election was in 1992, although it was
never completed because the civil war re-ignited,
and the second was in 2008, six years after the
end of the conflict.

The MPLA won the last vote by over 81 percent and
has used its commanding parliamentary majority to
pass a raft of new laws including a new
constitution, which has abolished direct
presidential elections.

The head of state will be chosen from the top of
the winning party list in this year's polls,
expected to easily hand President Jose Eduardo dos
Santos another term in power.

Source - AFP

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