Namibian electoral commission dismissed complaints on November 27 that the ruling party was intimidating opposition groups as the country's elections scheduled for next week come near.

Electoral Commission spokesman Peter Mietzner disclosed three letters of complaints are being investigated, but he said accusations of foul play are totally not true.

"Obviously the election will be free and fair," Mietzner said.

Rowdy supporters of the ruling South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) broke up a rally organized by the opposition Congress of Democracy (COD) on Thursday in the coastal city of Swakopmund. Cars were stoned and three policemen were injured.

On Friday, COD officials arrived at their Windhoek offices to find the party posters ripped up and smeared with blood.

The party charges that SWAPO members have prevented it from holding rallies in northern Namibia, a stronghold of President Sam Nujoma.

COD's spokesman Elizabeth Amukugo has publicly complained about the intimidation.

About 850,000 Namibians have been registered to vote on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

SWAPO, which led the 23-year struggle for independence from South Africa in 1989, is expected to keep its grip on Parliament.

Nujoma, 70, is campaigning for a third term after the constitution was changed to lift a two-term limitation.

SWAPO could, however, lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament, with widespread criticism of Namibia's costly military involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an unemployment of 40 percent, persistent poverty and a lack of basic services for large population groups.

COD was formed earlier this year by Ben Ulenga, Nujoma's former confidante and former ambassador to the United Kingdom. He quit SWAPO over Nujoma's commitment of troops to back Congolese President Laurent Kabila against rebel insurgents, and over the lifting of the two-term limit for the presidency.

Another six opposition parties are also contesting the poll, but only the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance - the current official opposition in the 72-seat Parliament - is expected to make a significant showing.