Rights group says Angola election unfair

LUANDA, Angola, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A human rights group says the ruling Popular Liberation Movement of Angola is undermining the first free elections in the African country since 1992.

The integrity of the parliamentary elections, set for Friday, are being endangered by abuses perpetrated by the Angolan government, including violent intimidation of opposition supporters and candidates, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

Angolan police have provided better security since the official start of the campaigns on Aug. 5 but the group claims the government isn't meeting "basic requirements for free and fair elections, in particular its duty to safeguard freedom of assembly and expression, ensure access to the media by all stakeholders, establish an impartial electoral body and provide security to opposition political parties."

Human Rights Watch said violent incidents are occurring in rural areas and that the MPLA has been using state resources to fund its election campaign while money for opposition parties arrived only after considerable delay.