Angola's ruling party held a big lead Saturday as the southern African nation posted preliminary results in its benchmark national election. With almost 70% of the vote counted, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) had almost 75% of the vote. according to a report of CNN. Friday's election was only Angola's third since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Under the terms of a constitution approved in 2010, the leader of the party that wins Friday's parliamentary vote will automatically become Angola's president. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has held power since 1979, had been widely expected to retain the top spot as the head of the MPLA, according to a report of CNN.
