Allegations of sorcery may have forced a recount of votes in some Papua New Guinea electorates.
A photo taken on February 6, 2013 shows a crowd watching as a young mother accused of sorcery, is stripped naked, reportedly tortured with a branding iron, tied up, splashed with fuel and set alight on a pile of rubbish topped with car tyres, in Mount Hagen city in the Western Highlands of PNG. Photo: AFP/Post Courier
Reports from Angoram and Yangoru-Saussia electorates in East Sepik province indicated a recount had been ordered, with various candidates' teams alleging sorcery might have been used to remove ballots from boxes.
In Angoram the lead petitioner for the recount was Timothy Yangmari, who claimed his votes were disappearing as the result of sinister forces.
Similarly, in Yangoru, candidates asked pastors and priests to pray over ballot boxes to keep them safe as the counting process in Papua New Guinea's general election inched forward.
At last count in Angoram, the sitting member, Salio Waipo of National Alliance, led the field.
In Yangoru, the sitting member, Trade and Industry Minister Richard Maru of the People's National Congress party, had a big lead.
Nationwide, results have been declared in 21 of the 111 seats in PNG's parliament.
The People's National Congress has won eight, the Pangu Pati has five, and the National Alliance has two.
