Mozambique's ruling party Frelimo retains power in national election

Mozambique's ruling party Frelimo has retained power in this month's national election, extending its five-decade rule in the Southern African state as the opposition cried fraud.

Frelimo's Daniel Chapo, 47, will succeed President Filipe Nyusi to becomeMozambique's fifth president since its independence from Portugal in 1975. Nyusi is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.

Chapo won most of the votes, the electoral commission said on Thursday. Venancio Mondlane, backed by the Podemos party, came second, displacing former rebel movement Renamo, which had been the official opposition party but whose candidate came third this time around.

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Observers have said the Oct. 9 election was not free and fair. A European Union mission reported irregularities during counting and alteration of results at the local and district level, problems which have marred most polls since Frelimo first allowed multi-party elections in 1994.

The electoral commission has declined to comment on allegations of vote-rigging.

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