Security forces on high alert ahead of the presidential election

Zambian security forces went on high alert on 29 October 2008 ahead of the presidential election on 30 October. Authorities increased security for fear of widespread violence after the opposition parties stated earlier in the week that they will not accept the election's results if the ruling party wins. Tensions have been high in Zambia since the opposition claimed to have discovered a plot to rig the elections in favor of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate Rupiah Banda. Zambian police officers have broken up three protests in the past week where angry opposition supporters surrounded trucks that they claimed were carrying pre-marked ballots. Banda has denied all accusations of voter fraud and has stated that he will accept the results even if he loses.