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| Confusion over Malawi vote count | Confusion over Malawi vote count |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Malawi's ex-President Bakili Muluzi has accepted that President Bingu wa Mutharika has won Tuesday's election. | Malawi's ex-President Bakili Muluzi has accepted that President Bingu wa Mutharika has won Tuesday's election. |
| The UDF leader congratulated the incumbent, who has been a bitter rival. Mr Muluzi was barred by a court last week from standing for a third term. | The UDF leader congratulated the incumbent, who has been a bitter rival. Mr Muluzi was barred by a court last week from standing for a third term. |
| He instead backed main opposition leader John Tembo against the incumbent. Mr Tembo has not accepted defeat, alleging widespread rigging. | He instead backed main opposition leader John Tembo against the incumbent. Mr Tembo has not accepted defeat, alleging widespread rigging. |
| With 40% of votes counted, Mr Mutharika has a huge lead, official results show. | With 40% of votes counted, Mr Mutharika has a huge lead, official results show. |
| The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, a 75-year-old former World Bank official, has 1.3m votes against 0.5m for Mr Tembo. | The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, a 75-year-old former World Bank official, has 1.3m votes against 0.5m for Mr Tembo. |
| Final official results are expected on Thursday night. | Final official results are expected on Thursday night. |
| Extraordinary... the results are absolutely unbelievable John TemboMalawi Congress Party leader Bingu wa Mutharika: Leading man? John Tembo: Poised for power? Q&A: Elections in Malawi | Extraordinary... the results are absolutely unbelievable John TemboMalawi Congress Party leader Bingu wa Mutharika: Leading man? John Tembo: Poised for power? Q&A: Elections in Malawi |
| Mr Muluzi told Malawian media: "As a former president of this country, I'm saying: 'Let's move forward.' | |
| "I telephoned him [Mr Mutharika] this morning, we had a conversation and I conveyed my congratulations to him for the victory and wished him well and his DPP party." | |
| But Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Mr Tembo, 77, struck a very different note, describing the results as "very unusual". | But Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Mr Tembo, 77, struck a very different note, describing the results as "very unusual". |
| He told a press conference: "If the population of a country is 50 million and the results indicate that 54 million have voted, you would consider them [results] extraordinary wouldn't you? | He told a press conference: "If the population of a country is 50 million and the results indicate that 54 million have voted, you would consider them [results] extraordinary wouldn't you? |
| "I just wanted to indicate that, so when you get to know the full extent of my complaint it must be on the basis of what I'm telling you - that the results are absolutely unbelievable." | "I just wanted to indicate that, so when you get to know the full extent of my complaint it must be on the basis of what I'm telling you - that the results are absolutely unbelievable." |
| On Wednesday, the MCP disputed results in its traditional stronghold of Central Province, saying its poll agents had been denied access to counting centres in the area. | On Wednesday, the MCP disputed results in its traditional stronghold of Central Province, saying its poll agents had been denied access to counting centres in the area. |
| International poll observers said the president had enjoyed an unfair advantage, including a partisan state media. | International poll observers said the president had enjoyed an unfair advantage, including a partisan state media. |
| John Tembo (l) has not accepted that President Mutharika (r) has won | John Tembo (l) has not accepted that President Mutharika (r) has won |
| EU observer group head Luisa Morgantini said the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi had failed to provide balanced coverage of the campaign. | EU observer group head Luisa Morgantini said the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi had failed to provide balanced coverage of the campaign. |
| Former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, leader of the Commonwealth observer team, said: "We are extremely concerned at the conduct of state-owned media in its coverage of these elections." | Former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, leader of the Commonwealth observer team, said: "We are extremely concerned at the conduct of state-owned media in its coverage of these elections." |
| The election followed a five-year feud between Mr Mutharika and his predecessor Mr Muluzi that brought a failed impeachment bid, parliamentary deadlock and coup plot claims. | The election followed a five-year feud between Mr Mutharika and his predecessor Mr Muluzi that brought a failed impeachment bid, parliamentary deadlock and coup plot claims. |
| Mr Muluzi lost a court battle last Saturday to be able to stand for a third term, having argued that after a break of five years he should be able to run for office again. | Mr Muluzi lost a court battle last Saturday to be able to stand for a third term, having argued that after a break of five years he should be able to run for office again. |
| The UDF leader - who is being tried on charges of embezzling $10m (£6.5m), but insists the charges are politically motivated - then endorsed Mr Tembo. | The UDF leader - who is being tried on charges of embezzling $10m (£6.5m), but insists the charges are politically motivated - then endorsed Mr Tembo. |
| Mr Mutharika fell out with Mr Muluzi in 2004, accusing his one-time backer of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive. | Mr Mutharika fell out with Mr Muluzi in 2004, accusing his one-time backer of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive. |
| The president quit his rival's party in 2005 to form the DPP and lead a minority government. | The president quit his rival's party in 2005 to form the DPP and lead a minority government. |
| Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the 13 million population lives on less than $1 a day and Aids has orphaned an estimated one million children. | |
| Are you in Malawi? What are your experiences of the election? How do you feel about Mr Muluzi conceding defeat? Send us your comments. | Are you in Malawi? What are your experiences of the election? How do you feel about Mr Muluzi conceding defeat? Send us your comments. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |