This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7601435.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Angola parties demand fresh polls Delay-hit Angola election resumes
(about 6 hours later)
The leader of Angola's main opposition has asked election officials to rehold a parliamentary election because of widespread delays at polling stations. Voting in Angola's parliamentary election has resumed for a second day after delays at polling stations.
Isaias Samakuva, leader of the Unita party, said the system in the capital, Luanda, had collapsed, while another party leader said the vote was flawed. In the capital Luanda, polls reopened at 0700 local time (0600 GMT), state-run media reported.
Later, officials announced 320 polling stations would reopen on Saturday. A BBC correspondent in the city says there is confusion about which polling stations will re-open and whether electoral staff will turn up.
It was the oil-rich nation's first election in 16 years, but was marred by confusion from the outset. It is the oil-rich nation's first election in 16 years, but has been marred by confusion from the outset.
Some polling stations opened late, others quickly ran out of ballot papers. Fourteen parties are taking part but the contest is mainly between the ruling MPLA party and its long-term rivals, Unita.
The problems were particularly marked in the country's overcrowded capital city.
For the very first time the political parties are not inciting people, especially young people Former child soldier Luis Samakundi Angola polls promise changeFrom war amputees to first votersParty mood for peace pollFor the very first time the political parties are not inciting people, especially young people Former child soldier Luis Samakundi Angola polls promise changeFrom war amputees to first votersParty mood for peace poll
Many voters were frustrated by the delays, but insisted they were prepared to wait in order to vote in the country's first election since the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. On Friday, some polling stations opened late and others quickly ran out of ballot papers. The problems were particularly serious in the overcrowded capital.
The head of the EU observer mission in the country, Luisa Morgantini, had expressed concern about the level of disorganisation at the start of voting. As the delays became evident, some opposition parties called for the election to be held again.
But she said the situation improved as the day went on. Isaias Samakuva, leader of the Unita party, said the system in Luanda had collapsed, while another party leader said the vote was flawed.
Fourteen parties were taking part, but the contest was primarily between Unita and its long-term rivals, the ruling MPLA party. However, the national electoral commission decided to run it for an unscheduled second day and reopen 320 polling stations.
Credibility worries The commission has rejected criticism of its organisation and blames local officials for the problems.
Although many voters were frustrated by the delays, they insisted they were prepared to wait in order to vote in the country's first election since the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002.
The head of the EU observer mission in Angola, Luisa Morgantini, had expressed concern about the level of disorganisation at the start of voting.
Angolan voters give their views on the landmark electionsIn pictures
But she said the situation had improved as the day went on.
Mr Samakuva told the BBC's Focus programme that the electoral system in Luanda province had collapsed, and it was essential that the vote was repeated.Mr Samakuva told the BBC's Focus programme that the electoral system in Luanda province had collapsed, and it was essential that the vote was repeated.
"At this stage nobody knows what percentage of the electorate was present at polling stations," he said."At this stage nobody knows what percentage of the electorate was present at polling stations," he said.
Angolan voters give their views on the landmark electionsIn pictures
"Other polling stations worked but without representatives of the political parties, who were not allowed to get in."Other polling stations worked but without representatives of the political parties, who were not allowed to get in.
"We need to make this process credible - credible not only to the Angolans themselves but to the international community as well.""We need to make this process credible - credible not only to the Angolans themselves but to the international community as well."
The leader of another opposition party, Ngola Kabangu of the FNLA, said the election was extremely flawed.The leader of another opposition party, Ngola Kabangu of the FNLA, said the election was extremely flawed.
The BBC's Peter Biles, reporting from Luanda, says it seems unlikely that the elections in the capital will be rescheduled, although the overall picture remains uncertain.
The MPLA's Information Secretary, Kwata Kanawa told the Focus programme the polls were going to stay open until "everyone has voted in Angola".The MPLA's Information Secretary, Kwata Kanawa told the Focus programme the polls were going to stay open until "everyone has voted in Angola".
'Organisation problem'
"It's not a problem of chaos. It's just a problem of organisation because all the electoral books and ballot papers arrived late in Angola," he said."It's not a problem of chaos. It's just a problem of organisation because all the electoral books and ballot papers arrived late in Angola," he said.
Later, Caetano de Sousa, head of Angola's electoral commission, announced that voting would continue on Saturday in 320 of Luanda's polling stations.
"Those polling stations who had problems opening will reopen tomorrow and those who did not open should also reopen tomorrow," he told a news conference in the capital.
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.
Thursday was the first day in a week that the state newspaper Jornal de Angola carried no front-page picture of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.Thursday was the first day in a week that the state newspaper Jornal de Angola carried no front-page picture of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
But Mr Sousa said there had been a level playing field.But Mr Sousa said there had been a level playing field.
Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital's overcrowded conditions.Some eight million voters are registered in the country - more than a quarter of whom live in the capital's overcrowded conditions.