Lusaka, Zambia  - The decision by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to phase out food aid to refugees in two camps in Zambia will leave about 3,000 people vulnerable to hunger, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said Tuesday.

UNHCR Representative to Zambia James Lynch said the WFP had informed his office that it would stop providing food to all but the most vulnerable refugees at Zambia's Meheba and Mayukwayukwa camps in 2009.

Johannesburg - Zambia's opposition leader Michael Sata on Tuesday again rejected ruling party Rupiah Banda's victory in last week's presidential by-election, setting the stage for a protracted political stand-off in the southern African country.

"I have not lost this election," Sata, 71, told South Africa's SAfm radio. "Rupiah Banda has no vision, Rupiah Banda has no platform. The only platform Rupiah Banda is on is cheating."

Lusaka - Rioting broke out in Zambia's capital overnight, after it emerged that acting president Rupiah Banda had overturned opposition leader Michael Sata's lead in Thursday's presidential by-election with only a few results left to count, reports in South Africa said.

With just two constituencies out of 150 in the southern African country left to be announced, Banda, 71, the candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, was poised to become president for the next three years, replacing ex-leader Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August.

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.