Angola Delays 'coup' Trial Of 37 Suspects

LUANDA, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2016 ) - Angola on Friday postponed the trial of 37 alleged former fighters from the main UNITA opposition group who are accused of a mysterious coup attempt in January.

The trial has been pushed back to December 2 "at the request of defence lawyers", Luanda court judge Joao Pedro Fuantoni told reporters. In a surprise announcement, the Angolan state news agency Angop reported Thursday that members of the former armed wing of UNITA had attempted a coup against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in January.

They are accused of planning an armed assault on the presidential palace in Luanda, as well as plotting to attack public television and radio stations.

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which was the main rebel group during a 27-year civil war and is now the main opposition party, has denied the accusations.

Judge Fuantoni said 35 suspects were arrested and two others were still on the run. They face charges of criminal association, attempted assassination of the head of state and illegal possession of firearms, said the judge.