Zambia prepared to swear in ruling party candidate Mr Levy Mwanawasa as president this morning amid high political tensions with heavily armed riot police deployed to keep opposition protesters away.
Earlier a Zambian judge had cleared the way for Mr Mwanawasa's inauguration, rejecting an opposition petition to force a recount in the country's closest elections since independence in 1964.
In Lusaka, capital of the southern African state, riot police barred opposition supporters from approaching the main court buildings, the scene of pitched battles between police and protesters yesterday.
Mr Mwanawasa, a 53-year-old lawyer and chosen heir of retiring President Mr Frederick Chiluba, spent much of the campaign fending off questions about health following a car crash in the early 1990s.
A government statement said he would take the oath of office at a ceremony starting at 10 a.m. [Irish Time], an hour later than originally scheduled.
The chief justice will declare Mr Mwanawasa duly elected as president and will immediately administer the oath of office, Electoral Commission spokeswoman Ms Priscilla Isaac said.
Zambia's 10 opposition parties have accused the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy of rigging the polls in favour of Mr Mwanawasa. The MMD and the Electoral Commission have denied the allegations.
European Union monitors described the poll as flawed.