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 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Confusion over Malawi vote count | Confusion over Malawi vote count |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| One of Malawi's opposition leaders has accepted that President Bingu wa Mutharika won Tuesday's elections but another has claimed widespread rigging. | One of Malawi's opposition leaders has accepted that President Bingu wa Mutharika won Tuesday's elections but another has claimed widespread rigging. |
| Ex-President Bakili Muluzi has telephoned Mr Mutharika, with whom he has fought a bitter feud in recent years, to offer his congratulations. | Ex-President Bakili Muluzi has telephoned Mr Mutharika, with whom he has fought a bitter feud in recent years, to offer his congratulations. |
| But Mr Muluzi's ally and main opposition presidential candidate John Tembo claims there was election fraud. | But Mr Muluzi's ally and main opposition presidential candidate John Tembo claims there was election fraud. |
| 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. | 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, a day before the winner of the presidential vote is due to be inaugurated. | Final official results are expected on Thursday night, a day before the winner of the presidential vote is due to be inaugurated. |
| 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 | 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 |
| In the parliamentary vote, Mr Mutharika's party also has a clear lead, with nearly half the ballots counted. | In the parliamentary vote, Mr Mutharika's party also has a clear lead, with nearly half the ballots counted. |
| With 193 seats up for grabs, partial official results have the DPP winning 59; Mr Tembo's Malawi Congress Party (MCP) 17; Mr Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) 10; and the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development just one. Eleven seats have gone to independents. | |
| Mr Muluzi was barred last Saturday from seeking a third term and his UDF instead backed Mr Tembo. | Mr Muluzi was barred last Saturday from seeking a third term and his UDF instead backed Mr Tembo. |
| Mr Muluzi told Malawian media: "As a former president of this country, I'm saying: 'Let's move forward.' | Mr Muluzi told Malawian media: "As a former president of this country, I'm saying: 'Let's move forward.' |
| "I telephoned him [Mr Mutharika] this morning, we had a conversation and I conveyed my congratulations to him for the victory and wished him well and his DPP party." | "I telephoned him [Mr Mutharika] this morning, we had a conversation and I conveyed my congratulations to him for the victory and wished him well and his DPP party." |
| Media bias | Media bias |
| But Mr Tembo, 77, struck a very different note, describing the results as "very unusual". | But 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? | 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." | "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 Mutharika was elected on a UDF ticket in 2004 but he then fell out with Mr Muluzi, accusing his one-time backer of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive. | Mr Mutharika was elected on a UDF ticket in 2004 but he then fell out with Mr Muluzi, 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. | 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 13 million 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 13 million 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 |