Uganda elections: vote counting begins

cctv.com 02-24-2006 09:18

Vote counting has begun in Uganda's first multi-party election in a quarter of a century. But the opposition is accusing President Yoweri Museveni's government of fraud in its bid to extend his two-decade rule.

Yoweri Museveni arrived at this polling station near his ranch in Rwakitura early on Thursday. He stood in the queue for a few minutes before being ushered through to cast his ballot. His main challenger is Kizza Besigye, whose Forum for Democratic Change has backing from the young and in cities.

There were widespread complaints of names missing off voter registers, and some other scattered reports of irregularities. But the ruling National Resistance Movement has dismissed the complaints, saying the election was free and fair.

Official election results are due by Saturday, but some counting stations began declaring immediately.

Besigye supporters took to the streets for celebrations outside three polling stations where their man was named the winner.

More than 16,000 polling stations were set up for nearly 10.5 million registered voters across the country.

Hundreds of foreign observers, including those from the African Union, the British Commonwealth and the European Union, were on hand to check for irregularities.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com