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Ghana result delayed until Friday Ghana knife-edge result delayed
(20 minutes later)
The electoral commissioner of Ghana has delayed the result of Sunday's knife-edge presidential run-off until Friday.The electoral commissioner of Ghana has delayed the result of Sunday's knife-edge presidential run-off until Friday.
Results in the Ashanti and Volta regions have been disputed and the Tain region, where the poll did not go ahead, will vote on Friday. Results in the Ashanti and Volta regions have been disputed and the Tain region, where the poll could not go ahead, will vote on Friday.
Officials have been stuck in behind-closed-doors wrangling with both parties in the capital Accra. Officials said the votes between the opposition's John Atta Mills and ruling party's Nana Akufo-Addo were so close one result could decide the outcome.
Opposition leader John Atta Mills has claimed victory, but the governing NPP party said it was too close to call. The BBC correspondent in Ghana says there are fears violence could erupt.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Nana Akufo-Addo gained the most votes in the first round earlier this month but did not pass the 50% threshold needed for outright victory. New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Mr Akufo-Addo gained the most votes in the first round earlier this month but did not pass the 50% threshold needed for outright victory.
Electoral officials, who have been stuck in behind-closed-doors wrangling with both parties in the capital Accra, said they would use the delay to audit the disputed results.
Ice creamIce cream
Shops closed early on Tuesday, with businessmen fearing that there could be looting once the result is announced.
RIVALS AT A GLANCE JOHN ATTA MILLS (left)Age: 64Party: National Democratic CongressExecutive posts: Vice-president 1997-2000Profession: University professorHobbies: Hockey, swimmingFamily: Married with one childNANA AKUFO-ADDO (right)Age: 64Party: New Patriotic PartyExecutive posts: Attorney general 2001-03; foreign affairs minister 2003-07Profession: LawyerFamily: Married with five children Ghana heads for run-off nail-biterQ&A: Ghana election run-off
The electoral commission headquarters has been besieged by thousands of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters demanding their candidate be declared the winner.The electoral commission headquarters has been besieged by thousands of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters demanding their candidate be declared the winner.
Ahead of a news conference originally scheduled for 1200GMT to release the official results, armed police and soldiers backed by water cannon trucks and an armoured personnel carrier kept the protesters behind barricades. Armed police and soldiers backed by water cannon trucks and an armoured personnel carrier kept the protesters behind barricades and at one point fired warning shots.
As tensions rose, party officials handed out ice cream and water to the crowds to calm them down.As tensions rose, party officials handed out ice cream and water to the crowds to calm them down.
The BBC's David Amanor in Accra says the opposition has been disputing results awarded to the governing party from five constituencies in the Ashanti region. Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader John Atta Mills had earlier claimed victory, but the NPP party said this was premature.
He says tensions remain high and there are fears violence could break out if no result is declared before nightfall. Shops closed early on Tuesday, with businessmen fearing that there could be looting once the result is announced.
It is understood turnout in one of the disputed constituencies was recorded at 99%, said by election experts to be unheard of. The opposition has been disputing results awarded to the governing party from five constituencies in the Ashanti region.
There were also complaints that dead people, children and foreign nationals had been listed among voters. It is understood turnout in one area was recorded at 99% - said by election experts to be unheard of - while there were also complaints dead people, children and foreign nationals had been listed among voters.
Earlier, NPP chairman Peter Mac Manu said there was widespread intimidation of its election agents in the Volta region and results from these areas would be challenged. Meanwhile, the NPP says there was widespread intimidation of its election agents in the Volta region and results from these areas would be challenged.
Confusion
International observers have given the poll a preliminary clean bill of health and urged both candidates to accept the results.International observers have given the poll a preliminary clean bill of health and urged both candidates to accept the results.
The ruling party says opposition celebrations are premature
Mr Atta Mills earlier told his supporters: "The figures show clearly that I have won the election. I am only waiting for the electoral commissioner to declare me winner."
But Mr Mac Manu said projections by local media that Mr Atta Mills had won were "highly speculative and premature".
The Electoral Commission on Monday declared results from 200 of the 230 constituencies, which showed Mr Atta Mills leading with 52% of the vote, against 48% for Mr Akufo-Addo.
Unofficial results from privately owned radio station Joy FM say Mr Atta Mills had an unassailable lead with just one constituency still to declare its results.
There was confusion earlier as the website of state broadcaster Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) reported that Mr Akufo-Addo had overtaken Mr Atta Mills, only to later change it.
Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since Ghana's return to democracy in 1992.Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since Ghana's return to democracy in 1992.
President John Kufuor is standing down having served two consecutive terms.President John Kufuor is standing down having served two consecutive terms.
In the two previous elections he defeated Mr Atta Mills.In the two previous elections he defeated Mr Atta Mills.
Mr Atta Mills served as vice-president under former leader Jerry Rawlings.Mr Atta Mills served as vice-president under former leader Jerry Rawlings.
Monitors hope Ghana's poll can help salvage the tarnished image of constitutional democracy in Africa, after flawed elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe and military coups in Mauritania in August and in Guinea last week.Monitors hope Ghana's poll can help salvage the tarnished image of constitutional democracy in Africa, after flawed elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe and military coups in Mauritania in August and in Guinea last week.
The stakes have been raised in these elections because Ghana has just found oil, which is expected to start generating revenue in 2010.The stakes have been raised in these elections because Ghana has just found oil, which is expected to start generating revenue in 2010.