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.

But the mission noted with concern statements from opposition political parties saying that they would not accept the outcome of the elections if any rigging is suspected.

The presidential election is to replace former president Levy Mwanawasa, who died of a stroke in August.

The southern African country is Africa's largest copper producer. However, 65 per cent of its people live on less that one dollar a day.

The election is a tight, two-horse race so far. Sata, president of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF), is leading narrowly with 650,605. Banda - the candidate for the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy - has garnered 615,241.

That represents a gap of 35,364 votes with 128 constituencies reporting so far. The country has 150 constituencies

It appears that the MMD, which is depending on rural votes, was disadvantaged due to low voter turn out. Both parties performed well in the other's strongholds.

The final votes are expected to be announced Saturday evening.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was locked in a tense meeting early morning Saturday with politicians to resolve allegations by the PF that the MMD is pre-empting the outcome of the results and is engaged in election fraud.

The charges were prompted after MMD chief executive Mbita Chitala appeared on National Television, announcing that his party will win the election by 62,000 votes.

Opinion polls carried out by two polling companies - one with close ties to the MMD - showed Sata leading Banda, who has campaigned on a theme of continuity with the popular Mwanawasa's prudent policies, by several points.

In response, the MMD released its own opinion poll through state- owned newspapers, showing Banda leading the pack with between 42 and 46 per cent versus between
31 and 35 per cent for Sata.

In 2006, Sata's initial refusal to accept his defeat at the hands of Mwanawasa sparked days of rioting. This time, he has warned he will not call off his supporters if he suspects vote rigging. Political analysts say the mood will hinge on how the ECZ releases the results. (dpa)