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| Zambians await election results | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zambians are waiting for the results from Thursday's general elections after a delay because voting was extended in some remote western areas. | |
| Election Commission President Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima urged Zambians to "keep cool" while waiting. | |
| "There is no way the result can be rigged," she said, adding people should not force officials to take short-cuts. | |
| The presidential contest is expected to be a tight race between President Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. | The presidential contest is expected to be a tight race between President Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. |
| Election material reached remote parts of western Zambia so late on Thursday that voting was not possible and has been extended into Friday. | |
| No results from elsewhere will be released until voting has finished at 1600GMT. | |
| The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier Michael Sata Voting in pictures Justice Mambilima said that giving partial results while some people were still voting could affect their choice. | |
| She also said that turnout had been "overwhelming". | She also said that turnout had been "overwhelming". |
| Some parliamentary results have, however, been announced, with Mr Sata's Patriotic Front party gaining seats in the copperbelt region. | |
| European Union monitors across the country reported no signs of trouble. | European Union monitors across the country reported no signs of trouble. |
| But EU chief observer Annemie Neytes said it was too early to give a verdict. | But EU chief observer Annemie Neytes said it was too early to give a verdict. |
| "The polling seems to have gone well but of course the most sensitive phase in the process has to begin," she told the BBC. | "The polling seems to have gone well but of course the most sensitive phase in the process has to begin," she told the BBC. |
| Opinion polls have varied wildly, but the most recent ones put Mr Mwanawasa ahead. Allegations of fraud marred the president's narrow win five years ago. | Opinion polls have varied wildly, but the most recent ones put Mr Mwanawasa ahead. Allegations of fraud marred the president's narrow win five years ago. |
| Economic success | Economic success |
| Mr Mwanawasa and his backers have boasted about steady economic growth and success in getting most of the country's foreign debt written off. | Mr Mwanawasa and his backers have boasted about steady economic growth and success in getting most of the country's foreign debt written off. |
| But opposition supporters say ordinary people have yet to feel the affects of the economic reforms - the revival in the crucial copper sector is slow, unemployment is high and there is concern over health and education standards. | But opposition supporters say ordinary people have yet to feel the affects of the economic reforms - the revival in the crucial copper sector is slow, unemployment is high and there is concern over health and education standards. |
| It feels exciting to think that I have voted for the first time Naomi Banda, 22, studentLusaka Zambian's voting experiences Are you voting? | It feels exciting to think that I have voted for the first time Naomi Banda, 22, studentLusaka Zambian's voting experiences Are you voting? |
| As he cast his vote in the capital, Lusaka, Mr Sata praised Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe for seizing white-owned land. | As he cast his vote in the capital, Lusaka, Mr Sata praised Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe for seizing white-owned land. |
| "Mugabe hasn't done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist-roaders who say he is a villain," he said. | "Mugabe hasn't done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist-roaders who say he is a villain," he said. |
| "The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier." | "The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier." |
| Zimbabwe's inflation rate is 1,200% - the highest in the world. | Zimbabwe's inflation rate is 1,200% - the highest in the world. |
| Mr Mugabe denies ruining the economy, saying he is being punished for standing up for the rights of Africans. | Mr Mugabe denies ruining the economy, saying he is being punished for standing up for the rights of Africans. |
| Mr Sata has promised to expel those foreign business leaders he accuses of mistreating their Zambian workers. | Mr Sata has promised to expel those foreign business leaders he accuses of mistreating their Zambian workers. |
| But the president has been warning that a vote for Mr Sata could seriously damage Zambia's economic recovery. | But the president has been warning that a vote for Mr Sata could seriously damage Zambia's economic recovery. |
| The opposition vote is divided between the other two main candidates - Mr Sata, of the Patriotic Front, and Hakainde Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance, which includes former President Kenneth Kaunda's party. | The opposition vote is divided between the other two main candidates - Mr Sata, of the Patriotic Front, and Hakainde Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance, which includes former President Kenneth Kaunda's party. |
| Mr Hichilema, a successful businessman, is a political novice but is expected to secure strong support - especially among the middle classes. | Mr Hichilema, a successful businessman, is a political novice but is expected to secure strong support - especially among the middle classes. |
| Godfrey Miyanda and Kenny Ngondo also ran for president. | Godfrey Miyanda and Kenny Ngondo also ran for president. |