Angola president's decision to step down a 'facade': activist The decision taken by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled for 37 years, to stand down before next year's general election, is a 'facade', a political activist in Luanda tells AFP, saying that the lives of ordinary Angolans will not improve as long as the ruling MPLA party stays in power. National Radio of Angola said that Defence Minister Joao Lourenco would take over as MPLA leader, in news confirmed to AFP by Joao Pinto, a senior member of the party. SOUNDBITES