The Latest: Polls close in Angola as president to step down
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Latest on Angola's election (all times local):
6:35 p.m.
Polls are now closed in Angola, where voters have been choosing the southern African country's first new president in almost four decades. Angola's election commission has called the vote peaceful.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}President Jose Eduardo dos Santos will step down after 38 years in power in an oil-rich country beset by widespread poverty and corruption.
About 9.3 million Angolans were registered to vote for the 220-member National Assembly. The winning party will then select the president.
Dos Santos' chosen successor is Joao Lourenco, the defense minister.
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9:30 a.m.
Angolans are voting in an election in which the defense minister is the front-runner to succeed President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who will relinquish the post after 38 years in power.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}About 9.3 million Angolans are registered to vote on Wednesday for the 220-member National Assembly; the winning party will then select the president. Dos Santos' chosen successor is Joao Lourenco, the defense minister and a former governor.
The ruling MPLA party won the 2012 election with 72 percent of votes amid allegations of irregularities. The UNITA party, a former rebel force that fought the MPLA in Angola's civil war, is the main opposition challenger.
Oil-rich Angola is beset by poverty, corruption and human rights concerns, though some analysts believe new leadership could open the way to more accountability.