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Angola anger at 'murder attempt' | Angola anger at 'murder attempt' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Angola's opposition party and former rebel group Unita has accused the government of trying to assassinate its leader Isaias Samakuva. | Angola's opposition party and former rebel group Unita has accused the government of trying to assassinate its leader Isaias Samakuva. |
Police in Kwanza Norte province opened fire at the place where he was staying, nearly killing him, Unita claims. | Police in Kwanza Norte province opened fire at the place where he was staying, nearly killing him, Unita claims. |
But the governor of the province says he has no knowledge of any assassination attempt. | But the governor of the province says he has no knowledge of any assassination attempt. |
Unita and the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) fought a 27 war that ended in 2002. | Unita and the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) fought a 27 war that ended in 2002. |
Around half a million people died in the civil war. | Around half a million people died in the civil war. |
'Very serious' | 'Very serious' |
At a press conference held in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Tuesday, several Unita members criticised the MPLA party, whom they have invited for urgent talks on the matter. | At a press conference held in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Tuesday, several Unita members criticised the MPLA party, whom they have invited for urgent talks on the matter. |
Unita's president was on a five-day tour of Kwanza Norte province when the residence where he was staying came under fire on Friday night. | Unita's president was on a five-day tour of Kwanza Norte province when the residence where he was staying came under fire on Friday night. |
Ten shots were fired and three came within a metre of Mr Samakuva's room. | Ten shots were fired and three came within a metre of Mr Samakuva's room. |
One of the bullets hit the foot of a 14 -year-old boy, a Unita supporter, who was sitting on a wall outside the house when the shooting began. | One of the bullets hit the foot of a 14 -year-old boy, a Unita supporter, who was sitting on a wall outside the house when the shooting began. |
Alcides Sakala, a senior Unita member, described the situation as "very serious" and has accused the government of trying to play down the situation. | Alcides Sakala, a senior Unita member, described the situation as "very serious" and has accused the government of trying to play down the situation. |
"I have absolutely no knowledge of this allegation that Unita is making," governor of Kwanza Norte, Henriques Junior, told the BBC. | |
The BBC's Lara Pawson in capital, Luanda, says the accusations and denials come at a worrying time for Angola which is recovering from civil war. | The BBC's Lara Pawson in capital, Luanda, says the accusations and denials come at a worrying time for Angola which is recovering from civil war. |
Next year, legislatives elections are due to take place for the first time in 16 years. Presidential elections are due in 2009. | Next year, legislatives elections are due to take place for the first time in 16 years. Presidential elections are due in 2009. |
Some observers say Unita claims are worryingly similar to the way tensions increased in the early 1990s. | Some observers say Unita claims are worryingly similar to the way tensions increased in the early 1990s. |
The last and first ever multi-party elections in Angola were held in 1992, but fighting broke out again before they could be completed. | The last and first ever multi-party elections in Angola were held in 1992, but fighting broke out again before they could be completed. |
Angola's infrastructure was devastated by the lengthy war and hundreds of thousands of landmines remain scattered around the country. | Angola's infrastructure was devastated by the lengthy war and hundreds of thousands of landmines remain scattered around the country. |