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Zambia vote count sparks protests Zambia vote count sparks violence
(about 8 hours later)
Armed police have been deployed in Zambia's capital Lusaka after fresh interim results were announced from last week's presidential election. Armed police in Zambia's capital Lusaka have used teargas to quell protests by opposition supporters against interim results from last week's election.
Supporters of opposition candidate Michael Sata protested after he dropped from first to third place with two-thirds of constituencies counted. They took to the streets after it was announced that opposition leader Michael Sata had slipped from first to third place with most results in.
The electoral commission said current President Levy Mwanawasa had moved into the lead. The electoral commission said President Levy Mwanawasa has moved into first place with a commanding lead.
Mr Sata has challenged the official vote tally and called for a recount. President Mwanawasa has appealed for calm in an address on state television.
Police fired tear gas to disperse supporters of Mr Sata who had gathered at the main vote counting centre in Lusaka. A number of people have been arrested. As his once-strong lead in the presidential vote evaporated, Mr Sata demanded a recount, saying there were serious discrepancies.
'Ghastly consequences' Clashes
With 94 of 150 constituencies counted, the electoral commission said that President Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy has more than 38% of the vote. With results in from 120 of 150 constituencies, the electoral commission said that President Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy had just over 42% of the vote.
Another opposition candidate, Hakainda Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance, has 30%. Another opposition candidate, Hakainda Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance, had 28%.
After taking an early commanding lead in the count, the Patriotic Front's Mr Sata has slipped to 28%. And the Patriotic Front's Mr Sata had slipped to 27%.
The counting process has been criticised for its slownessMr Sata is expected to launch an official complaint with Zambia's electoral commission over what he says are thousands of missing ballot papers. As the interim results were announced, supporters of Mr Sata began to protest outside Lusaka's main vote counting centre.
He has warned of "ghastly consequences" if electoral fraud is detected. Armed police moved in to disperse them, firing teargas and making arrests.
International observers have generally praised the electoral commission for conducting an efficient and transparent poll. But the commission has also come under increasing criticism for the slow pace of result announcements. Protesters clashed with police in several areas of LusakaPatriotic Front supporters then set up roadblocks with burning tires and fought with police in several outlying areas.
Zambia has a total of four million registered voters, and officials said turnout for Thursday's election was high. Several shops were looted in these suburbs, Reuters news agency reports.
The electoral commission said it would delay announcing more results until Monday because of the violence.
The head of the electoral commission, Ireen Mambilima, said she had received complaint from both the Patriotic Front and the United Democratic Alliance.
Mr Sata has said as many as 400,000 votes appear not to have been counted in areas where he expected to do well.
The violence and allegations of irregularities contrast with the voting on Thursday, which international observers praised as being generally efficient and transparent.
Officials said the turnout from Zambia's four million registered voters was high.
Mr Mwanawasa's campaign for a second and final five-year term was based on his strong economic record.Mr Mwanawasa's campaign for a second and final five-year term was based on his strong economic record.
He and his backers have boasted about steady economic growth and success in getting most of the country's foreign debt written off. But revival in the crucial copper sector is slow, unemployment is high and there is concern over health and education standards.
But opposition supporters say ordinary people have yet to feel the effects of the economic reforms - the revival in the crucial copper sector is slow, unemployment is high and there is concern over health and education standards. Mr Sata had vowed to secure a more equitable distribution of wealth if elected.
Mr Sata has vowed to secure a more equitable distribution of wealth.