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Zanzibar president sworn in after disputed re-run vote

Xinhua, March 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zanzibar's newly re-elected President Ali Mohamed Shein was sworn in on Thursday as leader of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Tanzania, following a disputed re-run vote.

The ceremony was held at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Amani Stadium, attended by Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli. However main opposition parties and international donors were not present.

Addressing the nation, President Shein pledged to form a government that will unite all Zanzibaris, protect human rights and promote equality.

The electoral commission on Monday announced President Shein, from Tanzania's ruling CCM party, won Sunday's re-run presidential polls with 91.4 percent of the vote.

The re-run vote was boycotted by the main opposition CUF party, which claims it had won the elections held in October last year.

Results of the October elections were annulled by the electoral body which cited "massive irregularities".

Over 500,000 voters cast their ballots in the elections last year, but the turnout of Sunday's re-run was low as the opposition called on its supporters not to vote.

The two parties, CCM and CUF, jointly formed a government during 2010 to 2015. Endit