But it is the battle for the second position here that is keeping opposition loyalists on the edge of their seats.

The Democratic Turnhalle Party(DTA) which was steadily surrendering ground to the new Congress of Democrats(CoD) in the preliminary stages of the parliamentary poll results, recovered from the afternoon count and regained its runner-up position.

DTA had 31,928 by 3.30hrs today, with CoD falling behind at 26,747. Swapo meanwhile, moved further ahead with 182,050, constituting 71 percent of the total vote count so far.

Opposition party officials watched the screens at Windhoek's results centre anxiously, as the new figures continued to pour in. CoD is hoping to supplant DTA as the new, official parliamentary opposition.

Its leader Ben Ulenga is currently second in the presidential race at 40,709 to incumbent Sam Nujoma, of Swapo, who had garnered upto 227,930 votes by late afternoon. DTA's Katuutire Kaura is running at 39,930.

More than 50 of the 103 constituencies have reported back, and with scores more centres to go, the race for parliament promises to be close between the DTA and CoD.

Opposition leaders are hoping to curtail Swapo's run for a two thirds majority which empowers it to amend legislation in parliament without express consent from other parties.

Swapo used its two-thirds advantage in the two houses of parliament to change the constitution to extend the presidential term for Nujoma beyond the stipulated two terms.

Although no other major amendment has been made since, opposition parties believe a reduced Swapo presence in the national assembly will lend them more leverage.