Angola leader promises more polls

Jose Edwardo dos Santos has been president for 29 years

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has said parliamentary elections will be held every four years, ahead of his country's first polls in 16 years.

He made the comments in a rare radio address on the eve of campaigning.

He called on Angolans to respect the democratic process and make the country an example to Africa and the world.

Elections have been expected and repeatedly delayed since 2002, when the government ended a 27-year conflict with the Unita rebel movement.

The ruling MPLA narrowly won the 1992 polls, which were part of a peace plan, but war resumed as Unita rejected the results.

Ten parties and four coalitions are competing for parliamentary votes, but Mr Dos Santos' MPLA is expected to retain its majority in parliament.

"Angola can be an example to the African continent and to the world in general on how to hold democratic, free and transparent elections," the president said.

Mr Dos Santos came to power in 1979 aged just 37, in the wake of the unexpected death from medical complications of Angola's first President, Agostinho Neto.

He is expected to stand in presidential elections in 2009.

Sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer after Nigeria, Angola has one of the worst infant mortality rates in Africa and millions of its citizens continue to live in shantytowns and slums.