Rally of Malawi opposition against theft & # 39; elections

Supporters of the Malawian opposition marched in the capital Lilonge and stormed government offices on Tuesday to protest alleged fraud in last month's elections, when Peter Mutharika was re-elected as president.

Supporters of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) allege that their leader, Lazarus Chakwera, was robbed of victory in the May 21 election. An official count showed that he had lost only 159,000 votes.

According to an estimate by AFP, protesters invaded ministerial and civil service offices after approximately 3,000 people surrendered from MCP's headquarters in Capital Hill, the seat of the Malawi government, chanting anti-government slogans. Mutharika.

"People are demanding that Chakwera, who won the elections, be sworn in as president," said participant Eliah Kamphinda-Banda in AFP.

The march, nicknamed "For Malawi to Rise, Mutharika Must Fall" drew protesters dressed in the red and green colors of the MCP, blocking the center of Lilongwe.

"We wanted to show the current regime that he is not supposed to do his job unless the vote count is done properly," said MCP official George Zulu.

"What we are doing is peaceful demonstrations, these marches will continue until the resignation of the government."

& # 39; Day steering

Chakwera dismissed the result as a "daylight flight" and began a court battle to have the result set aside for fraud.

Last week, police used tear gas to disperse Chakwera supporters gathered in front of the party headquarters.

The MCP stated that some election result sheets contained correction fluid, while others from distant polls bore the same handwriting.

"We say no to the Tippex elections," a March pamphlet said.

"Whether you voted for us or not, I am your president, I am the president of all Malawians," Mutharika said after his inauguration on Friday.

EU chief election observer Mark Stephens told AFP that his team "recognizes that many mistakes have been made during the count."

"Our observers have tried to collect as much detailed information as possible," he said.

Mutharika, of the Progressive Democratic Party, was declared the winner with 38.57% of the vote, against 35.41% for Chakwera.

Saulos Chilima, presidential candidate in third place, also alleged "serious anomalies" in the poll.

The PDP also won the parliamentary vote of the same day.