Zambia's election loser calls for calm

Zambia's opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata reiterated Wednesday his call for calm and peace after losing the Sept.28 tripartite elections.

Sata also called on the media to play a more reconciliatory role over the poll grievances.

The PF leader said there is need for reconciliation and co- existence among political stakeholders and physical confrontations should be avoided despite grievances arising from the election results.

Sata has thanked the security and defense personnel for exercising restraint in controlling post election violence among rival cadres.

Incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa garnered 43 percent of the 2, 740,178 valid votes cast in the country's 150 constituencies last week, while his arch rival Sata gained 30 percent, followed by Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with 25 percent.

Source: Xinhua