LUANDA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Angola's ruling party the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) here on Saturday held a rally to attract more Angolans to participate in the scheduled September 5 parliamentary elections.

    The Zango rally held in Viana on the outskirts of the capital Luanda, which kicked off at around 11:30 a.m., attracted tens and thousands of people of all walks of life in the capital, including the ruling party leaders and senior officials of various organizations.

    On behalf of MPLA Chairman and Angolan President Jose Eduardodos Santos, MPLA Vice Chairman Pitra Neto said in his speech that the rally meant to present the party's governance program for 2009-2012 and the electoral manifesto.

    The MPLA vice chairman who presided over the rally also sensitized participants for massive voting during the elections.

    The MPLA rally proceeded with cultural activities, which will count on the participation of the nationwide famous singers Belo do Samba, Sabino Henda and Samangwana.

    Earlier, the ruling party had also held similar rallies to mobilize people to take part in the September 5 parliamentary elections in Uige, Benguela, Lunda Norte and Moxico provinces, among others.

    Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos announced the holding of the parliamentary elections in his 2007 year-end message to the nation, saying that the holding of the parliamentary elections "is a process that will deepen the democratic system in Angola.

    "The first parliamentary elections in Angola were held in 1992,but due to the outbreak of the civil war there have not yet been the second polls. The ending of the 27-year civil war 6 years ago in the country has paved the way for holding the second normal and regular functioning of the democratic process," the president said.