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/8061757.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| "The United Democratic Front (UDF) party and its chairman wishes the president well as he governs the country in the next five years," UDF spokesman Hophmally Makande said in the statement. | "The United Democratic Front (UDF) party and its chairman wishes the president well as he governs the country in the next five years," UDF spokesman Hophmally Makande said in the statement. |
| 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? | |
| "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. | |
| Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the population lives on less than $1 a day and Aids has orphaned an estimated one million children. | Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the 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 |