Move to extend Zimbabwe's vote

A voting line snakes away from a Harare polling station

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Polls are set to re-open on Sunday after a first day of frustration and delays which saw tear gas fired at one polling station.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is to cast his vote in the presidential election on Sunday. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe voted in Harare the day before.

Thousands of voters queued patiently on Saturday in raging heat to take advantage of their constitutional right -- the biggest turn out seen in the country, witnesses said.

Their wait was made longer after some polling stations were closed in Harare.

Tempers flared outside a polling booth in the western township of Kuwadzana and 30 people were believed to have been injured after riot police fired tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowds, a polling official told CNN.

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Three of those injured were said to be in a serious condition.

Large crowds are again expected on Sunday and opposition members are calling for the vote to be extended beyond its current deadline of Sunday.

Tsvangirai says the closure of some polling stations and slow processing of voters is aimed at reducing votes for his Movement for Democratic Change party.

RESOURCES GALLERY: Voting in Zimbabwe    VIDEO Zimbabweans are bracing for the election (March 8) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Queuing for food as shortages grow (March 8) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES • Tsvangirai: Ready to take the reins?  • Mugabe: Africa's 'lasting connection'?  • On the scene: Zimbabwe's tense election    EXTRA INFORMATION In-Depth: Zimbabwe Election 2002

Tsvangirai, who is providing incumbent Robert Mugabe with his toughest challenge in 22 years, wants polling to be extended beyond Sunday evening to allow all votes to be cast.

In the capital Harare voters began queuing at polling stations five hours before voting began at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Saturday.

"Everybody is saying if they do not get a chance to vote on Saturday or Sunday something must be done because it is their constitutional right," CNN's Jeff Koinange reported.

CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault, at a polling station in the capital, said voters had been turning out enthusiastically despite the threats of violence surrounding the election.

But Tsvangirai was angry that in parts of Harare that are considered MDC strongholds the number of polling stations had been cut from 249 to 167.

And he said the voting process was being slowed by electoral officials.

Tsvangirai told The Associated Press: "The intention, of course, is that you frustrate as many voters as you can.

"Mugabe is trying to move the goal posts to disenfranchise people, these people he thinks will vote against him."

Mugabe dismissed the allegations by Tsvangirai and the MDC as biased because they were being made by the opposition against the ruling party.

Both candidates have predicted victory and alleged intimidation against their supporters.

Mugabe: The incumbent casts his vote

A group of 12 white farmers were taken into police custody in Harare after a confrontation with Mugabe supporters, the Commercial Farmers' Union told CNN. Police did not say why the farmers were being held.

Mugabe has tried to fight the election on land distribution and attempted to portray the MDC of working with white minority farmers who own the majority of Zimbabwe's most fertile farming land.

The MDC has been fighting the election on Mugabe's economic record which has seen unemployment and inflation rise.