Zambian election date announced

Zambia will hold an election on 30 October to choose a successor to President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in a French military hospital last month.

The poll was announced by the acting President, Rupiah Banda, who will be the candidate of the governing Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).
He is likely to face a strong challenge from opposition leader Michael Sata, who narrowly lost the election in 2006.
Mr Mwanawasa, who had led Zambia since 2001, suffered a stroke in June.
Under the constitution, an election must be called within 90 days of the post of president becoming vacant.