afrol News, 3 September - Angolan's main opposition party Unita has accused state bank of pouring millions of dollars to finance ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)'s campaign ahead of Friday's elections.

Unita said it handed in a document that showed state owned Savings, and Credit bank had given US $42 million to MPLA, but bank denied any transfer and said alleged documents were forged.

Unita secretary general, Abilio Kamalata Numa, said he was willing to go to court over the matter after the bank involved threatened to sue the party for defamation and forgery.

"This is a battle we are accepting. We have started it and we will take it calmly to unmask and dismantle the corruption that has been posed in Angola by a group of Angolans," he said.

There have been allegations that MPLA is using state money to finance their campaigning for Friday's vote. Meanwhile elections are viewed as a test of popularity for MPLA's leader Mr Jose Eduardo dos Santos who has been president for 29 years.

Opposition parties have criticised the way ruling party uses its influence to obtain financing as smaller parties struggle to make their voices heard in the war-ravaged country, where infrastructure, transport and communication are still in chaos.

Friday's elections were originally scheduled for 2006 but have been delayed on a number of occasions.

Angola was ravaged by civil war for 27 years until a peace deal was finally signed to end hostilities between MPLA and Unita in 2002.

The peace accord followed the death of long-time Unita leader Jonas Savimbi.

Angola's only previous elections, in 1992, sparked renewed fighting, after Savimbi rejected the results.

Angolan's new parliament election is due on Friday, which will be the country's first election after 16 years.

Only 10 political parties and four alliances have been cleared to contest parliamentary elections scheduled for Friday. More than 5,000 candidates will contest 220 parliamentary seats.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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