Angola civil society to step in after EU, US opt out of poll monitoringBy ARNALDO VIEIRA in Luanda | Tuesday, July 24  2012 at  16:30

Angola's civil society will monitor the forthcoming election after both the European Union (EU) and United States pulled out.

The EU Friday said it would not observe the August 31 election to safeguard its economic interests.

Ms Isabel Emerson, National Democratic Institute (NDI) boss in Angola, told DW German Radio said that while both the EU and US were willing to observe Angolan elections, the had pulled out due to other factors.

“US government was to send monitors in Angola to assess the beginning of the process but the delay was due to the appointment of the new National Electoral Commission boss," she said.

"Regarding the EU, apart from the economic crisis, this is a year full of polls in Africa thus monitors will be few” she said.

“We will train journalists in electoral coverage and help them with working means,” she added.

NDI is a non-profit, nonpartisan organisation working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. It been operating in Angola since 1996.

Amnesty International last week urged all presidential and parliamentary candidates and political party leaders to publicly commit to respect human rights during the election campaign.