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, Zambia - The results of Zambia's presidential by- election were trickling in Friday, showing opposition leader Michael Sata polling well in his strongholds in the capital Lusaka and the Copperbelt mining region.

Results from 16 constituencies in the Copperbelt showed him leading acting president Rupiah Banda by around two votes to one.

Sata had also taken two constituencies in Lusaka region, including Lusaka Central, while Banda had won two constituencies in his home region of Eastern Province.

With only around 20 of a total 150 constituencies announced, it was too early to call the election for either candidate. The final results could take several days.

Lusaka - Allegations by Zambia's opposition leader Michael Sata of vote rigging cast a pall over Thursday's election to choose a successor to deceased president Levy Mwanawasa and stoked fears of violence in Africa's largest copper producer.

The mood on voting day itself was calm as Zambians made their way from dawn to over 6,000 polling stations nationwide to choose a successor to Mwanawasa, who died of a stroke in August.

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.