African news : breaking news, features, analysis

Malawi's President Joyce Banda says she is annulling this week's general election - in which she was a candidate - because of voting "irregularities".

Ms Banda said a new vote should be held within 90 days. 

However, correspondents say it is unclear whether the Malawian president has the power to order a fresh election.

She had earlier said the vote had been marred by rigging, multiple voting and computer-hacking.

Late on Friday, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said rival candidate Peter Mutharika had taken a lead of 42%, with 30% of votes counted. Joyce Banda was in second place with 23%, the commission said.

Mrs Banda had previously accused a party, which she did not name, of infiltrating and hacking the MEC's counting system.

The MEC's chairman denied that its system had been hacked.