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Rafael Marques de Morais' 2012 book "Blood Diamonds:
Corruption and Torture in Angola" detailed more than 100 alleged
killings and torture of civilians and workers at diamond mines
owned by senior army officers.
The generals denied the allegations and brought defamation
charges against Marques de Morais in former colonial master
Portugal, where the book was published; but that case was
dismissed for lack of evidence.
The generals then turned to the courts in Angola, where rights
groups say the ruling party, in power since independence in
1975, pays scant regard to freedom of expression.
Marques de Morais reached an out of court agreement with the
generals requiring him to remove books from circulation and the
Internet. In return, they agreed to drop their libel case.
However, state prosecutors decided to continue with the case on
the grounds it constituted a criminal offence.
The case put a spotlight on the major African oil-producer,
which is keen to improve its reputation abroad amid criticism
from donors and rights groups about its record on issues such as
human rights and financial transparency.
(Reporting by Herculano Coroado; Editing by Ed Stoddard and
Ralph Boulton)
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