It is not clear whether this case marks a move against police brutality

Seven Angola police officers have been sentenced to 24 years in jail each for killing eight men - in a rare case of police brutality being punished.

After being told the men in the Sambizanga township were criminal suspects, the officers told them to lie down and then shot them in the back.

One of those shot managed to identify two of the plain clothes officers before dying of his injuries.

A US government report says police in Angola killed 23 people in 2009.

They took my son's life. They should be locked away for life

Woman in court

The weekly newspaper Novo Jornal said it was the first time that Angolan police had ever been convicted of such a serious crime, reports the AFP news agency.

But analysts say it is not clear whether this case marks a new determination from the government to tackle police brutality.

"Although the defendants may have believed that the young men were criminals, their actions are unjustifiable," said Judge Salomao Filipe.

He said the sentence of 24 years was the maximum he could pass.

Reuters news agency reports that some family members demanded a tougher sentence and refused to leave the court.

"They took my son's life. They should be locked away for life," one woman shouted.