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| South Africa vote count under way | South Africa vote count under way |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Votes are being counted in South Africa after a high general election turnout led to long queues at polling stations and a shortage of ballot papers. | Votes are being counted in South Africa after a high general election turnout led to long queues at polling stations and a shortage of ballot papers. |
| Voting was extended in some areas amid fears ballot papers were running out, and some ballot boxes were full. | Voting was extended in some areas amid fears ballot papers were running out, and some ballot boxes were full. |
| The election passed off peacefully, with no reports of political violence or intimidation. | The election passed off peacefully, with no reports of political violence or intimidation. |
| Monday's poll was the country's fourth general election since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. | Monday's poll was the country's fourth general election since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. |
| The election is expected to be the most competitive since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ruling ANC - led by Jacob Zuma - is expected to win. | The election is expected to be the most competitive since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ruling ANC - led by Jacob Zuma - is expected to win. |
| But it could lose the two-thirds majority in parliament which allows it to change the constitution. | But it could lose the two-thirds majority in parliament which allows it to change the constitution. |
| Among the ANC's rivals is a new party - Congress of the People (Cope) - formed last year by a group which split from the ANC after ex-President Thabo Mbeki was replaced as leader. | Among the ANC's rivals is a new party - Congress of the People (Cope) - formed last year by a group which split from the ANC after ex-President Thabo Mbeki was replaced as leader. |
| Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll, after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. | Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll, after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. |
| High turnout | High turnout |
| The first results were due in the early hours of Thursday, but the BBC's Peter Biles, in Pretoria, says it will be some time yet before a clear trend emerges. | The first results were due in the early hours of Thursday, but the BBC's Peter Biles, in Pretoria, says it will be some time yet before a clear trend emerges. |
| In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls | In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls |
| Our correspondent says a high turnout - estimated at around 80% - could benefit the ANC. | Our correspondent says a high turnout - estimated at around 80% - could benefit the ANC. |
| But he says the party might struggle to retain its two-thirds majority in the face of increased competition. | But he says the party might struggle to retain its two-thirds majority in the face of increased competition. |
| Braving wintry weather on Wednesday, long queues of voters formed outside many of the 20,000 polling stations catering for 23 million registered voters around the country. | Braving wintry weather on Wednesday, long queues of voters formed outside many of the 20,000 polling stations catering for 23 million registered voters around the country. |
| Later in the day reports began to emerge of a surge in demand for ballot papers and long queues at polling stations. | Later in the day reports began to emerge of a surge in demand for ballot papers and long queues at polling stations. |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille has threatened to take the IEC to court over the shortage of ballot papers, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported. | Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille has threatened to take the IEC to court over the shortage of ballot papers, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported. |
| She said 24 voting stations had run out of ballot papers in parts of Gauteng and Cape Town - areas where her party has a strong following, according to the SABC. | She said 24 voting stations had run out of ballot papers in parts of Gauteng and Cape Town - areas where her party has a strong following, according to the SABC. |
| 'Voting for change' | 'Voting for change' |
| Many of the new voters were young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. | Many of the new voters were young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. |
| Zille responds to charges of running a negative campaign | |
| Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign, but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. | Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign, but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. |
| Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who analysts say has struggled to make an impact. | Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who analysts say has struggled to make an impact. |
| Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance - for second place. | Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance - for second place. |
| Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. | Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. |