Mozambique Election: opposition claim attempted ballot stuffing

Opposition parties in Mozambique claim to have unearthed incidents of attempted ballot stuffing as the southern African country voted in closely-fought elections.

The Mozambique Democratic Movement had alleged that one of its members was shot by police after he tried to prevent a local ruling Frelimo official from stuffing a ballot box, in central Sofala province.

The presidential election is a closely-watched contest that tests the ruling Frelimo party, which has run the southern African country since independence from Portugal in 1975.

Counting started shortly after polling closed yesterday, but final results are not expected for two weeks.

In northern Nampula province, an MDM representative claimed, riot police used tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered at a polling station to watch the counting.

The electoral commission, local and foreign observers confirmed some incidents had occurred, but said on the whole voting was fairly smooth.

Source: Aljazeera