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Mozambique votes in close poll between Frelimo and Renamo Mozambique votes in close poll between Frelimo and Renamo
(about 4 hours later)
Elections are being held held in Mozambique, with the governing Frelimo party facing a tough challenge from longstanding opponent, Renamo. Elections are being held in Mozambique, with the governing Frelimo party facing a tough challenge from Renamo, its longstanding rival.
Frelimo has dominated the country's politics since independence from Portugal in 1975, but the last-minute entry of Renamo makes the presidential vote too tight to call. Frelimo has dominated politics since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Mozambique is one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. It has fought Renamo at the ballot box and in an on-off civil conflict. The Renamo leader came out of hiding to contest the polls.
The vote winner will control natural resources worth billions of dollars. Mozambique is one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, with billions of dollars worth of natural resources.
Mozambique was battered by 16 years of conflict between Frelimo and Renamo, which ended in 1992, after the deaths of an estimated one million people. The country remains one of the world's poorest.
Renamo took up arms again in 2013 but in August agreed a ceasefire. The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in the capital, Maputo, says Renamo's last-minute entry has made this the most fiercely contested election since independence in 1975.
Correspondents say that there were several clashes during campaigning. Campaigning was largely peaceful, despite some reports of clashes.
The opposition argues that only a small elite associated with Frelimo have reaped the benefits of Mozambique's new-found prosperity. It points out that although Mozambique has huge untapped resources of coal and natural gas, it is also one of the world's poorest countries. Mozambique's economy was battered by the 16-year conflict between Frelimo, the party of the rebels who fought Portuguese colonialism, and Renamo, a guerrilla movement backed by white-minority governments in South Africa and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
The conflict ended in 1992, after the deaths of an estimated one million people. Renamo took up arms again in 2013 but in August agreed a ceasefire.
The opposition argues that only a small elite associated with Frelimo have reaped the benefits of Mozambique's new-found prosperity.
A relatively new party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), led by the mayor of the second city, Beira, has also been gaining ground and could make gains in the parliamentary vote.A relatively new party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), led by the mayor of the second city, Beira, has also been gaining ground and could make gains in the parliamentary vote.
Correspondents say that Frelimo, which waged a 10-year battle for independence against colonial Portugal, has held on to power partly because of its liberation movement credentials but also because Renamo has failed until now to present a political alternative that reaches out beyond its core supporters. Correspondents say that Frelimo has held on to power partly because of its liberation movement credentials but also because Renamo has failed until now to present a political alternative that reaches out beyond its core supporters.
President Armando Guebuza, a former millionaire businessman, is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.President Armando Guebuza, a former millionaire businessman, is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.
The presidential candidatesThe presidential candidates
Analysts say changes in the electoral law, which mean the two main parties have representatives at the National Electoral Commission (CNE), should ensure the legislative and presidential count is more transparent.Analysts say changes in the electoral law, which mean the two main parties have representatives at the National Electoral Commission (CNE), should ensure the legislative and presidential count is more transparent.
The European Union is sending election observers, as is the US-based Carter Center, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union.The European Union is sending election observers, as is the US-based Carter Center, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union.
More than 10.7 million people are registered to vote in the country's 11 provinces, as well as more than 89,500 Mozambicans in the diaspora.More than 10.7 million people are registered to vote in the country's 11 provinces, as well as more than 89,500 Mozambicans in the diaspora.