This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/5401616.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Zambia president to be sworn in | Zambia president to be sworn in |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is to be sworn in for a second term of office later, following his disputed victory in last week's election. | Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is to be sworn in for a second term of office later, following his disputed victory in last week's election. |
His closest challenger Michael Sata has claimed massive fraud and said he was the rightful winner. | His closest challenger Michael Sata has claimed massive fraud and said he was the rightful winner. |
Mr Sata's supporters have staged two days of violent protests, mostly in poor districts of the capital, Lusaka, where the army has been deployed. | Mr Sata's supporters have staged two days of violent protests, mostly in poor districts of the capital, Lusaka, where the army has been deployed. |
Mr Mwanawasa gained 43% of the vote, while Mr Sata got 29%. | Mr Mwanawasa gained 43% of the vote, while Mr Sata got 29%. |
The other main candidate, Haikande Hichilima, won 25% to come third. | The other main candidate, Haikande Hichilima, won 25% to come third. |
'Voter fraud' | 'Voter fraud' |
Mr Sata said he would make life difficult for Mr Mwanawasa "inside parliament and outside parliament". | Mr Sata said he would make life difficult for Mr Mwanawasa "inside parliament and outside parliament". |
He has alleged voter fraud, saying as many as 400,000 votes appeared not to have been counted in areas where he had expected to do well. | He has alleged voter fraud, saying as many as 400,000 votes appeared not to have been counted in areas where he had expected to do well. |
Levy has stolen victory, but this is just a temporary setback because we are going to fight on Michael Sata | Levy has stolen victory, but this is just a temporary setback because we are going to fight on Michael Sata |
He told the BBC there was lots of time to investigate the ballot: "Levy Mwanawasa's term of office does not come to an end until January, 2007. | He told the BBC there was lots of time to investigate the ballot: "Levy Mwanawasa's term of office does not come to an end until January, 2007. |
"We have... three months in which we can clear all of these things and we have [a situation] where all of the presidential candidates are satisfied." | "We have... three months in which we can clear all of these things and we have [a situation] where all of the presidential candidates are satisfied." |
Electoral Commission President Justice Ireen Mambilima said she was investigating complaints from both the Mr Sata's Patriotic Front and Mr Hichilima's United Democratic Alliance. | Electoral Commission President Justice Ireen Mambilima said she was investigating complaints from both the Mr Sata's Patriotic Front and Mr Hichilima's United Democratic Alliance. |
Mr Mwanawasa's Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has also won a narrow majority in parliament, with 72 of the 148 contested seats. | |
The president also nominates eight MPs, meaning his party will have 80 seats - just over half of the 158 MPs. | |
The PF won 46 seats, while two by-elections will be held following the deaths of candidates. | |
Looting | Looting |
In Lusaka, protesters threw stones at police who responded with teargas and by firing live ammunition into the air. | In Lusaka, protesters threw stones at police who responded with teargas and by firing live ammunition into the air. |
Looting of shops owned by MMD supporters has been reported in parts of Lusaka. | |
President Mwanawasa has won billions of dollars in debt reliefThere has also been rioting in the northern city of Kitwe, another PF stronghold. | President Mwanawasa has won billions of dollars in debt reliefThere has also been rioting in the northern city of Kitwe, another PF stronghold. |
Clashes initially broke out on Sunday in Lusaka when the electoral commission announced that Mr Sata had fallen from first place to third in interim vote counts, as results from rural areas arrived. | Clashes initially broke out on Sunday in Lusaka when the electoral commission announced that Mr Sata had fallen from first place to third in interim vote counts, as results from rural areas arrived. |
The violence and allegations of irregularities contrast with the voting on Thursday, which international observers praised as being generally efficient and transparent. | The violence and allegations of irregularities contrast with the voting on Thursday, which international observers praised as being generally efficient and transparent. |
Since being originally elected in 2001, Mr Mwanawasa has been credited with raising economic growth above 5% and winning Zambia billions of dollars of debt relief. | Since being originally elected in 2001, Mr Mwanawasa has been credited with raising economic growth above 5% and winning Zambia billions of dollars of debt relief. |
But the economic reforms have not improved life for most of Zambia's poor, revival in the crucial copper sector has been slow and unemployment is high. | But the economic reforms have not improved life for most of Zambia's poor, revival in the crucial copper sector has been slow and unemployment is high. |
Mr Mwanawasa's election victory in 2001 was also accompanied by allegations of fraud. | Mr Mwanawasa's election victory in 2001 was also accompanied by allegations of fraud. |