Votes are being counted in Swaziland's parliamentary elections.

Voting had beenextended after the authorities said heavy rains prevented many people from getting to polling stations during the first round nine days ago.

Election authorities say the election had been calm, following a decision by trade union and opposition activists to call off anti-government demonstrations.

Political parties are banned in the kingdom and opposition activists, pressing for multi-party democracy, had urged the voters to boycott the poll.

They said the cancellation of the vote on October-the-sixteenth was an effort by the authorities to hide low turnout.

No figures have been released yet on Saturday's turnout.