Angola Opposition Member Killed in Attack

{{Oil-rich Angola’s main opposition party Unita on Tuesday accused civil war foes now in the ruling MPLA of killing one of its activists in an attack in the south of the country.}}

The 42-year-old man and 22 others were building a stage for a party rally in the town Londuimbali south west of the capital Luanda when the altercation happened, said Unita provincial secretary Liberty Chiyeka.

“He was attacked by people from the local MPLA with knives and rocks. He died from his wounds and six others were injured,” said Chiyaka.

The incident, which happened May 11, marked a step back in relations between the two parties, he added.

The almost 30-year war ended in 2002, but in the following decade 13 Unita members had died in clashes in the region, he said.

Huambo province deputy governor Guilherme Tuluca hit back at the accusation.

“This is an area where Unita doesn’t have the support of local people because of the violence it perpetrated in the past. The party leaders have to accept this,” Tuluca told state news agency Angop.

He said Unita started unrest in the area, which used to be a party stronghold until the MPLA won it over in 2008 elections.

{AFP}