Tanzania ruling party takes early lead in Zanzibar elections

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania -- The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has taken a narrow early lead in Zanzibar's elections, according to results announced on Tanzanian state radio.

The station said on Monday that CCM had won eight of the 15 constituencies counted so far -- including one on the opposition stronghold of Pemba island.

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) had won seven of the 50 seats for the house of representatives on the semi-autonomous spice islands, it said.

The results announced all came from areas where the ballot had been completed on November 29, and none were from the 16 constituencies where a re-vote had been held on Sunday.

A partial re-vote was ordered by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission because of polling chaos which included stolen ballot papers, voting stations opening late, or not at all, and confusion over registration lists.

The CUF boycotted Sunday's re-vote, saying the entire ballot needed to be done again. International observers and monitors also rejected the second round of voting, saying the entire process was flawed.

Tanzania went to the polls on November 29 to elect a new president and 231-seat house of parliament. Zanzibaris also voted separately for a president and 50-member house of representatives.

No tally for the Zanzibar presidential race has been given by state radio.

Tanganyika merged with the Zanzibar islands of Pemba and Unguja in 1964 to form Tanzania.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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