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| Zimbabwean voters elect president | Zimbabwean voters elect president |
| (1 day later) | |
| Polling stations have closed in Zimbabwe, ending voting in elections that will decide whether President Robert Mugabe wins a sixth term. | |
| His challengers are Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party and ex-finance minister and independent Simba Makoni. | His challengers are Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party and ex-finance minister and independent Simba Makoni. |
| Queues formed early, but voting died down later in the day. Some voters complained of irregularities. | |
| The MDC feared the poll would be rigged but Mr Mugabe said as he cast his vote in Harare: "We don't rig elections." | |
| Reports from polling stations said officials began to close voting booths as scheduled at 1900 local time (1700 GMT) but people still queuing were allowed to vote later. | |
| Counting will take place at the polling stations, but the results still need to be collated at various other centres. | |
| Preliminary results are expected by Monday. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off in three weeks' time. | |
| I was distressed and disappointed to be turned away after hours of queuing Tia, Harare class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7315339.stm">Latest at a glance class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7321070.stm">Election day: In quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7320612.stm">Quiet determination to vote Long queues formed in some areas before the polls opened at 0500 GMT, but there were reports that other polling stations were virtually deserted. | |
| Correspondents say opposition members are concerned that many voters feared intimidation and stayed at home. | |
| A presidential decree ahead of the elections had permitted police to go into polling stations, ostensibly to help illiterate voters. | |
| The MDC said some of its party agents were prevented from entering polling stations. | |
| Across the country, there were reports of voters not being allowed to cast ballots - either because their names were not on the voters' roll or because they were trying to vote in the wrong ward. | |
| Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plot Robert Mugabe One UK resident said his sister was "disappointed and distressed" to be turned away "even though when she checked a couple of weeks ago she was on the [register]". | |
| Others found the system fair and efficient. Sandra, 23, told the BBC by phone from Bulawayo: "There is a long queue behind me but it is moving. People around me are quiet and are waiting patiently to cast their vote." | Others found the system fair and efficient. Sandra, 23, told the BBC by phone from Bulawayo: "There is a long queue behind me but it is moving. People around me are quiet and are waiting patiently to cast their vote." |
| A number of people also said they found names of dead relatives on the electoral roll. | |
| Petrol bomb | |
| Nearly six million people are eligible to vote. | Nearly six million people are eligible to vote. |
| There are local, senate, assembly and presidential polls, raising fears of confusion. | There are local, senate, assembly and presidential polls, raising fears of confusion. |
| ZIMBABWE POLLS - KEY FACTS Some 5.9m eligible votersThey elect president, parliament and local government Nearly 9,000 polling stations Polls opened at 0500 GMT and close at 1700 GMTWinner needs more than 50% to avoid presidential run-off href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7320189.stm">In pictures: Zimbabwe votes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7316712.stm">Moment of truthQ&A: Zimbabwe elections On Thursday, Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Makoni jointly expressed severe concerns about the polls. | |
| Pan-African Parliament observers have now reportedly written to the electoral commission, saying 8,450 voters had been registered on a patch of deserted land in Harare. | Pan-African Parliament observers have now reportedly written to the electoral commission, saying 8,450 voters had been registered on a patch of deserted land in Harare. |
| But an African Union observer, Yvonne Khamati, told Kenyan TV: "Everything seems regular and people are coming out to vote. There is no sign of the military or police." | But an African Union observer, Yvonne Khamati, told Kenyan TV: "Everything seems regular and people are coming out to vote. There is no sign of the military or police." |
| Voting passed off largely peacefully although a petrol bomb exploded overnight at the home of the ruling Zanu-PF party's Mary Nsingo in Bulawayo, injuring the councillor. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe elections will no doubt be free and fair. The allegations being peddled are unfounded and based on hearsaySosten Musiniwa, HarareSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe elections will no doubt be free and fair. The allegations being peddled are unfounded and based on hearsaySosten Musiniwa, HarareSend us your comments |
| Mr Makoni was one of the early voters and complained his polling station in Harare opened late and ballot casting was slow. However, he said he was confident. | Mr Makoni was one of the early voters and complained his polling station in Harare opened late and ballot casting was slow. However, he said he was confident. |
| "I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni," he said. | "I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni," he said. |
| President Mugabe later cast his vote in Harare and, when asked of his chances, said: "This time around, like the last time, very good... we will succeed and we will conquer." | President Mugabe later cast his vote in Harare and, when asked of his chances, said: "This time around, like the last time, very good... we will succeed and we will conquer." |
| He added: "I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged." | He added: "I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged." |
| Mr Tsvangirai also said he expected to win as he cast his ballot in the capital. | Mr Tsvangirai also said he expected to win as he cast his ballot in the capital. |
| "Victory is assured in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people," he said. | "Victory is assured in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people," he said. |
| 'Full alert' | 'Full alert' |
| BBC southern African correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF will be relying on support from voters in the countryside, while the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is strongest in the cities. | |
| Morgan Tsvangirai said he was confident of victory Morgan Tsvangirai But in recent days it has become increasingly difficult to predict the outcome, he adds. | |
| The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. | The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. |
| The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job. | |
| Mr Mugabe blames a Western plot for ruining the economy. | Mr Mugabe blames a Western plot for ruining the economy. |
| If you are voting send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85. | If you are voting send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85. |