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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Banda sworn in as Zambian leader | Banda sworn in as Zambian leader |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Zambia's acting head of state, Rupiah Banda, has been sworn in as president, just two hours after officials said he had narrowly won Thursday's election. | Zambia's acting head of state, Rupiah Banda, has been sworn in as president, just two hours after officials said he had narrowly won Thursday's election. |
| According to final results, Mr Banda beat the main opposition candidate, Michael Sata, by 40.1% to 38.1%. | According to final results, Mr Banda beat the main opposition candidate, Michael Sata, by 40.1% to 38.1%. |
| Earlier, Mr Sata rejected the result, saying a "bunch of thieves" had stolen the vote. His Patriotic Front said it would go to court to demand a recount. | Earlier, Mr Sata rejected the result, saying a "bunch of thieves" had stolen the vote. His Patriotic Front said it would go to court to demand a recount. |
| But African regional electoral monitors said voting had been free and fair. | But African regional electoral monitors said voting had been free and fair. |
| The governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) said it recognised this was a moment of high emotion and tension, and urged all Zambians to calm down and work for unity and peace. | The governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) said it recognised this was a moment of high emotion and tension, and urged all Zambians to calm down and work for unity and peace. |
| Rupiah Banda is sworn in as the new Zambian president | |
| Security has been stepped up in the capital, Lusaka, amid fears of further unrest. | Security has been stepped up in the capital, Lusaka, amid fears of further unrest. |
| On Saturday evening, riot police fired tear gas at Mr Sata's supporters, who marched through a crowded Lusaka slum, setting fire to market stalls and throwing stones in the streets. | On Saturday evening, riot police fired tear gas at Mr Sata's supporters, who marched through a crowded Lusaka slum, setting fire to market stalls and throwing stones in the streets. |
| Mr Banda took over from President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August having suffered a stroke a few months earlier. | Mr Banda took over from President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August having suffered a stroke a few months earlier. |
| The 71-year-old former diplomat and ex-vice-president has promised to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. | The 71-year-old former diplomat and ex-vice-president has promised to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. |
| Although Mr Mwanawasa reined in inflation and built up impressive foreign reserves, Zambia remains one of the world's poorest countries with more than 60% of the population living on less than $2 a day. | Although Mr Mwanawasa reined in inflation and built up impressive foreign reserves, Zambia remains one of the world's poorest countries with more than 60% of the population living on less than $2 a day. |
| Mr Banda will serve until 2011, when Mr Mwanawasa's term would have ended. | Mr Banda will serve until 2011, when Mr Mwanawasa's term would have ended. |