This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7332334.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
'No need' for new Zimbabwe poll Mugabe 'preparing for poll war'
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has claimed victory in the presidential election and said a second round run-off is unnecessary. Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has accused President Robert Mugabe of preparing to go to war against the country's people.
He also accused President Robert Mugabe, who has held power since 1980, of preparing to use violence against his people to stay in office. He said Mr Mugabe was deploying troops and armed militias to intimidate voters ahead of a possible run-off poll.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has backed him to contest any run-off poll. Mr Tsvangirai insisted he had won last weekend's presidential vote, the result of which has yet to be announced.
The official results of last Saturday's presidential election have still not been announced. He called on Mr Mugabe to enter a dialogue to prepare for a peaceful, democratic transition.
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has launched a legal bid to force the Zimbabwe Election Commission to publish the results. Saturday also saw election officials declare the final results of the Senate vote.
Zanu-PF is preparing a war against the people of Zimbabwe Morgan TsvangiraiMDC leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7331838.stm">Speculation grips Harare class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4532&edition=1">Send us your comments The Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) said Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party had won 30 seats, with the combined opposition taking the same number.
It says Mr Tsvangirai has already cleared the 50% of the vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off. In the lower house, opposition parties took 109 seats, while Zanu-PF won just 97 - the first time it has failed to win a majority since independence from Britain in 1980. Zanu-PF has said it will demand recounts in 16 seats.
Saturday saw the High Court postpone a hearing on the MDC case until Sunday after the commission asked for more time to prepare its response. Armed police initially prevented MDC lawyers from entering the court before allowing them in. Court challenge
Guarantee of safety Mr Tsvangirai was speaking after attempts by his party to get the official presidential poll results released by the ZEC stalled, when police prevented lawyers from entering the High Court.
In what was his first public declaration of victory, Mr Tsvangirai told reporters: "It is unfair... for President Mugabe to even hint at a run-off. The High Court postponed a hearing on the MDC case until Sunday, after the commission asked for more time to prepare its response.
"Violence will be the new weapon to reverse the people's will. We won this election without the need for a run-off... I want to say to President Robert Mugabe: 'Please rest your mind, the new Zimbabwe guarantees your safety' Morgan TsvangiraiMDC leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7331838.stm">Speculation grips Harare class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4532&edition=1">Send us your comments
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote"Zanu-PF is preparing a war against the people of Zimbabwe." Mr Tsvangirai claimed victory for the first time since last Saturday's vote, saying figures posted outside polling stations confirmed he had reached the required threshold of more than 50% of the vote to win outright - and a run-off was unnecessary.
He urged President Mugabe to begin talks about the handling of a "peaceful, orderly and democratic transition". "In the run-off, violence will just be the new weapon to reverse the people's win," the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader told reporters.
He added: "In making this call, I believe it is in the interests of the people and the future of this country not to create conditions of anxiety and instability. "In this regard, we know that thousands of army recruits are being recruited, militants are being rehabilitated and some few claiming to be war veterans are already on the warpath."
He claimed that the country's central bank was printing money to pay for bribes and government-financed campaigns of violence and intimidation.
"I am calling on President Mugabe to begin a dialogue with me, to begin the process of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition," he added.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote"In making this call, I believe it is in the interests of the people and the future of this country not to create conditions of anxiety and instability.
"I want to say to President Robert Mugabe: 'Please rest your mind, the new Zimbabwe guarantees your safety.'""I want to say to President Robert Mugabe: 'Please rest your mind, the new Zimbabwe guarantees your safety.'"
He derided the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for its failure to declare the outcome. Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister, Bright Matonga, has accused the opposition of spreading false and malicious reports to get international sympathy.
"This is a totally unacceptable situation in delaying the release of the results." The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has repeated his call for the full publication, without any further delay, of the presidential election results.
Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister, Bright Matonga, has accused the MDC of spreading false and malicious reports to get international sympathy. Mr Brown, attending a conference near London of international leaders, said the situation was being monitored closely.
Speaking during a visit to the UK, South African President Thabo Mbeki said that now was not the time to interfere, and the international community should wait to find out the outcome of the election. President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who is also at the conference, said that both President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai were ready to hold a re-run of the election and the process should be allowed to go forward.
He said this was not the time for international action on Zimbabwe, dismissing an MDC call for foreign intervention to prevent violence breaking out.
"I think the situation for now is manageable," he told reporters."I think the situation for now is manageable," he told reporters.
SanctionsSanctions
Zanu-PF leaders backed Mr Mugabe's participation in a possible run-off on Friday. There had been speculation he would stand aside rather than face a second poll.Zanu-PF leaders backed Mr Mugabe's participation in a possible run-off on Friday. There had been speculation he would stand aside rather than face a second poll.
In a separate development, Zanu-PF has said it will call for recounts for 16 seats in the parliamentary elections. But a BBC southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says the ruling party remains divided, with many who would still like to see a change of leadership, believing that under Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe has no future.
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results: None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Partial Senate results: Zanu-PF: 5MDC: 550 undeclared Source: ZEC
If successfully contested, these would be enough for the party to regain the majority it lost for the first time since 1980.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote, slightly more than the 50% needed to avoid a run-off.
An independent projection says Mr Tsvangirai gained 49%, just below the threshold, with Mr Mugabe on 42%.
Western countries imposed sanctions following allegations that Mr Mugabe rigged the polls in 2002.Western countries imposed sanctions following allegations that Mr Mugabe rigged the polls in 2002.
The sanctions are targeted at Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze in the European Union and the US.The sanctions are targeted at Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze in the European Union and the US.
Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence on a wave of optimism.Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence on a wave of optimism.
But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.
The ruling party remains divided, the BBC's Peter Biles says, with many who would still like to see a change of leadership, believing that under Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe has no future.
So far, 10 of the 60 Senate results have been officially announced, with each party taking five seats.
In the lower house of parliament, the MDC took 99 seats, while Zanu-PF won 97.
A smaller MDC faction, which backed former Mugabe loyalist Simba Makoni in the presidential election, won 10 seats, leaving them with a potentially influential role.
Are you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form belowAre you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form below
Name
 Name