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Los Angeles Times
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LUANDA, ANGOLA -
Voters in Angola, Africa's biggest oil-producing nation, will take part in parliamentary elections for the first time in 16 years today, with analysts forecasting a peaceful election and victory for the ruling MPLA party.The first and last time Angola voted, in 1992, rebel UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi denounced the results, took up arms and fought for another 10 years.From the fight for independence from Portugal that concluded successfully in 1975 until Savimbi's death in combat in 2002, Angola was almost constantly a battleground. Six years of peace and record oil prices have transformed it into one of the world's fastest-growing economies -- yet one of its most unequal.Human Rights Watch and London-based think tank Chatham House have questioned whether the election can be free and fair, given the ruling party's dominance of the state media. Rights Watch also cited cases of violence and intimidation.
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