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/7349120.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe rival sets run-off terms | Mugabe rival sets run-off terms |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not contest a run-off election unless certain conditions are met, a spokesman for his party says. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), believes he won last month's election against President Robert Mugabe outright. | Mr Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), believes he won last month's election against President Robert Mugabe outright. |
| MDC spokesman George Sibotshiwe said a secure environment had to exist first, with thorough international monitoring. | |
| But current conditions did not allow for a free and fair vote, he said. | |
| The party would only take part if the Southern African Development Community could help oversee every stage of the count, he added. | The party would only take part if the Southern African Development Community could help oversee every stage of the count, he added. |
| Earlier, a national strike called by the MDC to demand that results from the 29 March election be published immediately received little apparent support. | Earlier, a national strike called by the MDC to demand that results from the 29 March election be published immediately received little apparent support. |
| Dire economy | Dire economy |
| Reports from the capital, Harare, said most banks, shops and offices opened as usual. | Reports from the capital, Harare, said most banks, shops and offices opened as usual. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says a strike call was never likely to be heeded by many workers, such is the desperate state of Zimbabwe's economy. | The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says a strike call was never likely to be heeded by many workers, such is the desperate state of Zimbabwe's economy. |
| Meanwhile in South Africa, the governing African National Congress has made its boldest statement so far on Zimbabwe, saying it regards the situation in the country as "dire". | Meanwhile in South Africa, the governing African National Congress has made its boldest statement so far on Zimbabwe, saying it regards the situation in the country as "dire". |
| Send us your comments | Send us your comments |
| Zimbabwe's election commission says it cannot release the results of the presidential election until a partial recount is completed at the weekend. | Zimbabwe's election commission says it cannot release the results of the presidential election until a partial recount is completed at the weekend. |
| Independent counts suggested that Mr Tsvangirai won the election but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would face a run-off. | Independent counts suggested that Mr Tsvangirai won the election but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would face a run-off. |
| The MDC had previously said it would not take part in a run-off because it might lead to violence and the intimidation of the party's supporters around the country. | The MDC had previously said it would not take part in a run-off because it might lead to violence and the intimidation of the party's supporters around the country. |
| MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC on Tuesday that two of its activists had been killed and 200 hospitalised after being assaulted by ruling party militias. | MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC on Tuesday that two of its activists had been killed and 200 hospitalised after being assaulted by ruling party militias. |
| The party has said its supporters have been beaten up in rural areas where the MDC won. | The party has said its supporters have been beaten up in rural areas where the MDC won. |
| On Monday, Zimbabwe's High Court dismissed an opposition petition for the results to be released immediately, saying reported anomalies should first be investigated. | On Monday, Zimbabwe's High Court dismissed an opposition petition for the results to be released immediately, saying reported anomalies should first be investigated. |
| In last month's elections Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time during his 28-year rule. | In last month's elections Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time during his 28-year rule. |
| But the party could recover that majority if it is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount. | But the party could recover that majority if it is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount. |