Long delays and huge queues today forced an extension of voting hours in some polling stations on the first day of Zimbabwe's presidential election.
Polls were due to close at 7 p.m. (17:00 GMT) but after delays that caused frustration in opposition urban strongholds and at least one clash with police in Harare, officials allowed some voting stations to remain open for several hours.
Opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, the first person to seriously challenge President Robert Mugabe's 22-year rule, had earlier accused the veteran president of causing deliberate delays to rig the vote and asked for a two-day extension of the poll.
Mr Reginald Matchaba-Hove, chairman of the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said several polling stations stayed open although he had no details of how many.
Thousands of people remained queuing, mainly in Harare, an opposition bastion, where earlier riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to push back frustrated voters trying to force their way into a polling station.