Angola elections body picks new interim bossBy ARNALDO VIEIRA | Wednesday, May 23  2012 at  11:02

Angola's National Electoral Commission (CNE) Tuesday appointed Mr Eldetrudes Costa as its interim president after the surprise sacking of its former boss, a spokeswoman said.

Before his appointment Mr Costa was a commissioner on the Commission.

"He was unanimously appointed National Electoral Commission interim president," CNE spokeswoman Júlia Ferreira said.

"This decision was done due to preparation of the country polls. The interim president will not play his role for more than 30 days," she said.

The country's Higher Council of the Judicial Magistracy has advertised for a new chairperson for the Commission (CNE), according to the General Elections Organic Law, the council said in a statement Tuesday.

"Candidates must be judicial magistrates from any organ, an Angolan citizen and shall submit their candidatures from 23 to 27 May," it said.

Angola's Supreme Court last week quashed the appointment of Suzana Inglês on the grounds that she was not a magistrate.

But Ms Ingles was also seen as close to the political establishment having headed a woman's league allied to the ruling MPLA.

The unexpected decision in a country tightly controlled by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos sparked celebrations among the southern African country's civil society organisations and the opposition, with thousands marching in Luanda.

Angola goes to the polls in September in only its third election since independence. The ruling party, in power since 1975, is expected to handily retain its majority in the National Assembly.

The head of the party with the largest number of MPs automatically becomes the President.