Polls have closed in Zimbabwe where parliamentary elections were conducted smoothly and without the kind of violence that has marred previous elections. Turnout was reported to be high, with long lines at polling stations across the country.
After casting his ballot, President Robert Mugabe said he was confident his ruling ZANU-PF party would win an overwhelming victory. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed Zimbabweans want change. He called the election fundamentally unfair, accusing the ruling party of using repressive policies to guarantee victory. Vote counting is expected to begin immediately. One-hundred-120 parliamentary seats are at stake in the election. In another development, a police spokesman says two British journalists were arrested in the town of Norton while interviewing voters. They are accused of covering the election without proper accreditation as required by Zimbabwe law.