Namibia opposition challenge poll

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Opposition parties in Namibia have launched a court challenge to the results of last month's election.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his Swapo party won a landslide victory with more than 70% of the vote.

The BBC's Frauke Jensen in the capital Windhoek says nine out of the country's 14 opposition parties are calling for a recount of the ballot.

Activists have claimed that 180,000 voters were officially registered who did not actually exist.

ELECTION RESULTS Hifikepunye Pohamba: 76.4% of presidential voteSwapo: 74% of parliamentary vote1.1m registered voters

Before the vote, the electoral commission rejected allegations that the voters' roll included constituencies that had been listed twice, voters who had been listed twice and people who were too young to vote.

Our correspondent says the parties are now anxious to match the number of voters on the electoral roll with the number of people eligible to vote.

Libolly Haufiku, spokesman for the nine parties, said the papers had been filed at the court and their case would be heard on Friday.

African observer missions pronounced the elections held on 27-28 November as largely free and fair.

The main opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) party, led by Hidipo Hamutenya, won 11.3% of the vote.

Swapo has dominated Namibia's politics since it gained independence in 1990 after a long struggle against rule by South Africa.