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| Zambians vote for new president | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zambians are going to the polls to elect a new president to replace Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August after suffering a stroke. | |
| The two main contenders in the poll are acting president Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata. | The two main contenders in the poll are acting president Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata. |
| Police are on high alert for what is expected to be a close vote. | |
| The country's army commander, Gen Isaac Chisuzi, warned that anyone who tried to incite violence would be dealt with by the army. | The country's army commander, Gen Isaac Chisuzi, warned that anyone who tried to incite violence would be dealt with by the army. |
| In their final rallies on Wednesday, both candidates named economic progress as their top goal. | In their final rallies on Wednesday, both candidates named economic progress as their top goal. |
| Mr Banda, a 71-year-old former diplomat who served as vice-president to Mr Mwanawasa, heads the governing Movement For Multi-Party Democracy. | Mr Banda, a 71-year-old former diplomat who served as vice-president to Mr Mwanawasa, heads the governing Movement For Multi-Party Democracy. |
| He promised to follow in the footsteps of the former leader. | He promised to follow in the footsteps of the former leader. |
| Mr Sata, who leads the opposition Patriotic Front, called on his supporters to sleep outside polling booths to prevent vote rigging. | Mr Sata, who leads the opposition Patriotic Front, called on his supporters to sleep outside polling booths to prevent vote rigging. |
| He has vowed to transform Zambia within 90 days of taking office by forcing foreign firms to hand over 25% stakes to local investors. | He has vowed to transform Zambia within 90 days of taking office by forcing foreign firms to hand over 25% stakes to local investors. |
| There are two other candidates: Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development and retired army general Godfrey Miyande, of the Heritage Party. | There are two other candidates: Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development and retired army general Godfrey Miyande, of the Heritage Party. |
| The winner of the election will serve until 2011 - when Mr Mwanawasa's term would have ended. | The winner of the election will serve until 2011 - when Mr Mwanawasa's term would have ended. |