Lusaka - Despite leading in most polls, Zambia's main opposition party Saturday called for a delay in the announcement of presidential election results, citing irregularities in the handling of the results.

Given Lubinda, spokesman for the Patriotic Front (PF) called on Zambia's election commission (ECZ) to immediately stop the announcement of the election winner.

Lubinda told journalists Saturday that his party has credible information that the elections have been rigged and the opposition party will not accept the outcome.

The final vote tally is expected to be announced Saturday evening.

Lusaka  - Zambia's elections were declared transparent and free by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as main opposition leader Michael Sata maintained his lead over acting president Rupiah Banda.

John Kanene, leader of the SADC electoral observer mission to Zambia, said the presidential by-elections were well managed and conducted in a credible, peaceful way. He cited the use of transparent ballot boxes and the professional conduct of Zambia's police in polling stations nationwide in a preliminary report.

Lusaka, Zambia - Partial results from Zambia's presidential by-election Friday showed opposition leader Michael Sata leading acting president Rupiah Banda with 
60 out of 150 constituencies counted.

Sata, who was defeated for president in 2001 and 2006, had 407,639 votes, against 317,558 for Banda, candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.

Lusaka - Zambians went to the polls Thursday to elect a successor to deceased president Levy Mwanawasa in a tense contest between a government veteran promising stability and a charismatic populist. 

Although there are four candidates vying to replace Mwanawasa, who died in August after suffering a stroke, however, ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) candidate, acting president Rupiah Banda, and opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata are deemed to be the only serious contenders. 

Lusaka - Police in the southern African country of Zambia were on high alert Wednesday as campaigning in a tense presidential election drew to a close amid signs of a possible dispute over the outcome.

The capital Lusaka was brought to a standstill as acting president Rupiah Banda, candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) and Michael Sata, leader of the main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) held their final rallies.

Sata, 71, drew a much bigger crowd at his than Banda, also 71, who is more popular in rural areas.

Lusaka - While tens of thousands of people are fleeing renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, thousands of victims of the last war from 1998 to 
1993 are returning to their homes in the south of the country from neighbouring Zambia.

After nine years in refugee camps in Zambia, more and more Congolese refugees are packing for home, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Zambia said Wednesday.

The refugees are being repatriated by road to their homes in Katanga province, which is deemed safe, deputy representative for the UNHCR Zambia, Fernando Alvarado, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.