There were complaints of intimidation but few reports of violence during the first day of Zimbabwe's crucial parliamentary elections. Polls reopen Sunday for the last day of voting before results are tallied.

Many observers see the election as a referendum on the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, who has led the country since independence 20 years ago.

There were long line-ups but no serious violence reported, according to the country's top electoral officer Mariyawanda Nzuwa.

Robert Mugabe

"All the reports indicate that the turnout is tremendous with most polling stations registering long queues late into the evening," Nzuwa Still, the main opposition parties alleged widespread intimidation by government supporters.

The Movement for Democratic Change claimed pro-government militants set up roadblocks in the capital, Harare, to prevent election monitors from reaching a polling station.

But the head of the largest foreign observer group said voting has generally been smooth.

Zimbabwe's 5.1 million voters will have until Sunday night to cast ballots at 4,000 polling stations across the country.

Although Mugabe's term as president is over for another two years, the election is being viewed as the first serious test to his leadership since independence in April 1980.

Recent public opinion surveys show the MDC on the brink of capturing 70 of the 120 seats up for grabs. But the opposition will need to win 76 seats, since Mugabe appoints 30 more seats in the 150 seat parliament.

The months leading up to the vote have seen at least 30 deaths - most of those killed were opposition supporters. The invasion and occupation of white farms, and an economic crisis, have fuelled opposition demands for an end to Mugabe's ZANU-PF government.

First results are expected to be announced on Monday morning.