Angola's president, who has been in power for 32 years, is rejecting claims that his country is a dictatorship that disregards the rights of its citizens.

During his annual State of the Nation address on Tuesday, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said “There is no dictatorship here whatsoever.” He argued instead that Angola is a “new democracy, alive, dynamic and participatory.”

He called for dialogue with the people to help solve the country's problems and acknowledged what he described as misunderstandings among some Angolans.

Activists have held a number of anti-government demonstrations in recent months, though not on the scale seen in some other African countries.

Mr. dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979. He has repeatedly delayed presidential elections since the end of the country's civil war in 2002.

Mr. dos Santos said Tuesday the country would hold general elections in 2012, although he did not indicate if he planned to run again.

A new constitution adopted in 2010 virtually ensures that the leader will be able to stay in power for years to come.