Three people were badly hurt in the Zambian capital Lusaka today when police clashed with thousands of protesters demanding that the High Court nullify last week's presidential election.
Clashes outside the court building forced Judge Peter Chitengi to abandon the courtroom where he was hearing a claim by 10 opposition parties that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had rigged last week's election, witnesses said.
"I cannot work in an environment like this," Mr Chitengi said before storming out of the courtroom.
Opposition politician Mr Robert Sichinga said three members of his United Party for National Development (UPND) were seriously wounded when police fired at protesters in Lusaka's Kanyama township. Police were not available to comment.
At the High Court, thousands of protesters broke through barbed wire cordons chanting "We want change. We want change". Police armed with batons and automatic weapons fired volleys of tear gas inside and outside the courtroom.
The latest results from the Electoral Commission, with almost all the votes counted, showed ruling party candidate Mr Levy Mwanawasa ahead of his closest rival, businessman Mr Anderson Mazoka.