Presidential candidate Abel Chivukuvuku (2nd L, front) of the Angola's Broad Convergence-Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) shows up at a voting point in Luanda, capital of Angola, on Aug. 23, 2017. Angolans are heading to the polls which started on Wednesday to vote for a new president, as the incumbent president and longtime leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos retires after nearly 40 years in power. (Xinhua/Lino Guimaraes Fernando)

Angolans are heading to the polls which started on Wednesday to vote for a new president, as the incumbent president and longtime leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos retires after nearly 40 years in power.

Over 12,000 polling stations were opened all over the country at 7 a.m. for more than 9.3 million registered Angolans to vote for a new president, vice-president and 220 MPs to the National Assembly.

Millions of voters are casting their votes in a calm and peaceful environment. Some voters started to queue as early as 5 a.m. at the polling stations that are opened from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

After voting in the capital Luanda, Speaker of the National Assembly Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos called on all Angolans to vote with discipline, serenity and responsibility.

Outgoing President dos Santos, aged 74, also voted on Wednesday morning in the southern African nation's fourth general election since its return to multi-party democracy in 1992 in the capital Luanda.

He has decided to step down and not run in this year's election after 38 years in power in the country.

The presidential candidates are Joao Gonsalves Lourenco of the ruling party MPLA, Isaías samakuva of UNITA, Abel Chivukuvuku of the Angola's Broad Convergence-Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE), Benedito Daniel of the Social Renewal Party (PRS), Lucas Benghy Ngonda of FNLA and Quintino Antonio Moreira of the National Patriotic Alliance (APN).

Members of the observer missions both from international and national organizations are monitoring the elections in the country's 18 provinces.

Among the international organizations observing the election are the European Union, the African Union, the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community, the Economic Communities of Central African States and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The African Union Observer Mission led by the former prime minister of Cabo Verde Jose Maria das Neves is made up of 40 delegates.

For the same purpose, the SADC is working with 70 inspectors from nine member States.

The National National Electoral Commission has accredited 1,440 observers, including 240 nationals and 1,200 internationals.

(Xinhua News Agency, August 23, 2017)