Zambia Election: President claims vote was not free and fair

Zambia's incumbent president has described Thursday's elections as "not free and fair".

Early results show President Edgar Lungu trailing his main opponent, businessman Hakainde "HH" Hichilema.

The president said election officials from his party Patriotic Front had been chased from polling stations, leaving votes unprotected.

In response, Mr Hichilema said the statement was the "desperate final act of an outgoing administration".

Mr Lungu, who is seeking a second term, also said that violence in provinces where he lost votes had rendered "the whole exercise a nullity".

The party, he added, was considering its next course of action.

Zambia's electoral commission is yet to respond.

Violence had broken out in Southern province, North-Western province and Western Province, the president's statement said.

Mr Lungu referenced the killing of a Patriotic Front chairman in North Western province and of another young party activist in clashes earlier this month. When the deaths occurred, the president brought in army reinforcements.