Geldof attack raises ire of oil-rich Angola

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Angola's government has accused anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof of disrespect and ignorance for saying the southern African nation was run by criminals and served only the rich.

The rock star made the comments on Tuesday at a conference in Lisbon. He also criticised the oil-rich nation for building luxury houses in Luanda that were more expensive than those in some of London's most prestigious neighbourhoods.

Angolan Deputy Prime Minister Aguinaldo Jaime said Geldof, 56, did not understand the realities of life in Angola, which is rebuilding its infrastructure after a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

"His remarks seem to me completely unfair and should be rejected," Jaime was quoted as saying by the state-run Jornal de Angola on Thursday. He added that he did not expect Geldof's attack to affect foreign investment in the booming country.

Rights groups and international agencies have accused Angola's government of siphoning away billions in oil revenue and urged it to improve transparency.

Angola's government has enjoyed a surge in revenue thanks to increasing oil production and soaring world prices, but many people in the country of more than 12 million are as poor as any in Africa.

Angola's average life expectancy is less than 42, according to the latest U.N. development report.

(Reporting by Paul Simao; editing by Matthew Tostevin)