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| Malawi votes in knife-edge poll | Malawi votes in knife-edge poll |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Voting has been brisk in Malawi's general election, with analysts suggesting the presidential race is too close to call. | Voting has been brisk in Malawi's general election, with analysts suggesting the presidential race is too close to call. |
| Seven candidates are vying for the top job but it is being viewed as a two-horse race between incumbent Bingu Wa Mutharika and his opponent, John Tembo. | Seven candidates are vying for the top job but it is being viewed as a two-horse race between incumbent Bingu Wa Mutharika and his opponent, John Tembo. |
| The southern African country is also electing a new parliament. | The southern African country is also electing a new parliament. |
| Mr Tembo is backed by ex-President Bakili Muluzi, whose attempt to run for a third term was blocked by the courts. | Mr Tembo is backed by ex-President Bakili Muluzi, whose attempt to run for a third term was blocked by the courts. |
| While it is still among the poorest nations, Malawi has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and Western donors hope its relative stability over the past decade will not be disrupted. | |
| 'Huge turnout' | 'Huge turnout' |
| Long queues have been reported as nearly six million voters cast their ballots at almost 4,000 polling stations around the country. | Long queues have been reported as nearly six million voters cast their ballots at almost 4,000 polling stations around the country. |
| It's my right to choose the president that's going to take us through five years of development, better education and everything possible we need for a better Malawi Voter Bingu wa Mutharika: Leading man? John Tembo: Poised for power? Q&A: Elections in Malawi Would you run for president? | It's my right to choose the president that's going to take us through five years of development, better education and everything possible we need for a better Malawi Voter Bingu wa Mutharika: Leading man? John Tembo: Poised for power? Q&A: Elections in Malawi Would you run for president? |
| The BBC's Chakuchanya Harawa in the capital Lilongwe says when he arrived pre-dawn at one voting booth two hours before it opened, there was already a line of waiting electors. | The BBC's Chakuchanya Harawa in the capital Lilongwe says when he arrived pre-dawn at one voting booth two hours before it opened, there was already a line of waiting electors. |
| It was a similar picture in the northern city of Mzuzu, says the BBC's Joel Nkhoma. | It was a similar picture in the northern city of Mzuzu, says the BBC's Joel Nkhoma. |
| After casting his ballot in his home village of Goliati in southern Malawi, Mr Mutharika said: "There is a large turnout, people exercising their right to vote," reported AFP news agency. | After casting his ballot in his home village of Goliati in southern Malawi, Mr Mutharika said: "There is a large turnout, people exercising their right to vote," reported AFP news agency. |
| The opposition has raised concerns about the possibility of vote-rigging, but poll officials said there had been no problems. | The opposition has raised concerns about the possibility of vote-rigging, but poll officials said there had been no problems. |
| Malawi Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Ananstasia Msosa told Reuters news agency in Lilongwe: "If this trend continues, we are projecting a huge turnout compared to the last election in 2004." | Malawi Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Ananstasia Msosa told Reuters news agency in Lilongwe: "If this trend continues, we are projecting a huge turnout compared to the last election in 2004." |
| The election follows a long political feud between Mr Mutharika and his predecessor Mr Muluzi that has caused riots, a failed impeachment bid, parliamentary deadlock and coup plot claims. | The election follows a long political feud between Mr Mutharika and his predecessor Mr Muluzi that has caused riots, a failed impeachment bid, parliamentary deadlock and coup plot claims. |
| Mr Muluzi lost a court battle on Saturday to be able to stand for a third term, having argued in vain that after a break of five years, he should be able to run for office again. | Mr Muluzi lost a court battle on Saturday to be able to stand for a third term, having argued in vain that after a break of five years, he should be able to run for office again. |
| His United Democratic Front has endorsed Mr Tembo, leader of the Malawi Congress Party, which governed the country for 30 years. | His United Democratic Front has endorsed Mr Tembo, leader of the Malawi Congress Party, which governed the country for 30 years. |
| Mr Mutharika fell out with his one-time backer in 2004, accusing Mr Muluzi of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive. | Mr Mutharika fell out with his one-time backer in 2004, accusing Mr Muluzi of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive. |
| MALAWI POLL BY NUMBERS 5.9m voters, 3,900 poll boothsSeven presidential contenders1,100 candidates for 193 seatsMalawi GDP $313 (£200) per head | MALAWI POLL BY NUMBERS 5.9m voters, 3,900 poll boothsSeven presidential contenders1,100 candidates for 193 seatsMalawi GDP $313 (£200) per head |
| Mr Muluzi is being tried on charges of siphoning $10m (£6.5m) from donor countries, but insists the charges are politically motivated. | Mr Muluzi is being tried on charges of siphoning $10m (£6.5m) from donor countries, but insists the charges are politically motivated. |
| Mr Mutharika quit his rival's party in 2005 to form his own Democratic Progressive Party and lead a minority government. | Mr Mutharika quit his rival's party in 2005 to form his own Democratic Progressive Party and lead a minority government. |
| The 75-year-old former World Bank official, who has won praise from Western donors, says he only wants one more term and will then retire. | The 75-year-old former World Bank official, who has won praise from Western donors, says he only wants one more term and will then retire. |
| Mr Tembo, 77, once a leading figure in the regime of the late dictator Hastings Kamuzu Banda, is hoping the election will bring to an end 15 years in opposition. | Mr Tembo, 77, once a leading figure in the regime of the late dictator Hastings Kamuzu Banda, is hoping the election will bring to an end 15 years in opposition. |
| Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the population lives on less than a dollar a day and Aids has orphaned an estimated one million children. | Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the population lives on less than a dollar a day and Aids has orphaned an estimated one million children. |
| But the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says it is thought voters will be likely to cast their ballot along regional and ethnic lines, with the issues taking a back seat. | But the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says it is thought voters will be likely to cast their ballot along regional and ethnic lines, with the issues taking a back seat. |
| In the parliamentary election, about 1,100 candidates, including a record number of women, are standing but no party is expected to win an outright majority. | In the parliamentary election, about 1,100 candidates, including a record number of women, are standing but no party is expected to win an outright majority. |
| Final results are expected by Thursday. | Final results are expected by Thursday. |