Kikwete Widens Lead in Tanzanian Presidential Race

Tanzanian ruling party candidate and Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete has widened his lead as ballots are counted from Wednesday's presidential race.

Election officials said Saturday results from 135 of the 232 constituencies show Mr. Kikwete has won 79 percent of the votes so far. His closest rival, opposition candidate Ibrahim Lipumba, has nearly 13 percent.

Officials also say Mr. Kikwete's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has so far won 92 parliamentary seats to a total of 17 for two opposition parties.

In other news, at least 50 people from a village on Tumbatu island in Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar have fled election-related clashes between supporters of both parties. A witness says several people were injured. The witness says others left the village fearing supporters of the ruling party would attack them.

There has been political unrest in recent days in Zanzibar.