Acting President Rupiah Banda edged into the lead in Zambia`s presidential vote count Saturday, with a slim margin over opposition leader Michael Sata who has already claimed the vote was rigged.

With all but two consituencies called, Banda had 39.95 percent of the vote over Sata`s 38.46 percent in the neck-and-neck race to lead the the country after the death of former president Levy Mwanawasa in August.

`We`re inviting all of you for the swearing-in ceremony,` the ruling party`s jubilant deputy minister for local government, Ben Tetamashimba told journalists.

Sata`s Patriotic Front has already dismissed the results and asked election officials to stop releasing the vote count, repeating claims that the election was rigged.

`The Patriotic Front cannot accept the result of the on-going presidential election,` the opposition party`s secretary general Edward Mumbi said in a statement given to the commission before the latest tally.

The African Union and the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) have brushed aside claims of fraud, saying their observers declared the vote free and fair.