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Zimbabwe election results delay Tutu urges Zimbabwe intervention
(about 7 hours later)
Final results from Zimbabwe's one-candidate presidential election have been delayed, election officials say. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has urged the international community to intervene in Zimbabwe - by force if necessary.
They said they hoped they would be able to announce the results on Sunday - a day later than originally expected. The former Cape Town archbishop said he would support the deployment of a UN force to restore peace in the country.
President Robert Mugabe was said to have won by a wide margin, after the opposition boycotted the vote amid claims of violence and intimidation. He said African Union leaders should refuse to recognise Robert Mugabe as the legitimate president of Zimbabwe.
But international observers have reported many spoilt ballots, which in some areas could outnumber votes cast. It is thought Mr Mugabe will be sworn in for another term on Sunday, although final results from the one-candidate election have been delayed.
The opposition boycotted the vote amid claims of violence and intimidation.
'Powerful signal'
Mr Mugabe was said to have won by a wide margin, but international observers have reported many spoilt ballots, which in some areas could outnumber votes cast.
Earlier, officials said the count was complete, but later reports said results from rural areas were still trickling in.Earlier, officials said the count was complete, but later reports said results from rural areas were still trickling in.
"Tonight we cannot give the results. I don't want to give a time-frame, but I hope it will be tomorrow," Utoile Silaigwana, the deputy chief elections officer for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, told Reuters news agency. In an interview for the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Archbishop Tutu said the African Union could have a clear role in persuading Mr Mugabe to negotiate.
Mr Mugabe is expected to be sworn in on Sunday for another term in office. "If you were to have a unanimous voice, saying quite clearly to Mr Mugabe... you are illegitimate and we will not recognise your administration in any shape or form - I think that would be a very, very powerful signal and would really strengthen the hand of the international community."
Call for sanctions "I think that a very good argument can be made for having an international force to restore peace," he added.
Contrary to the state-run newspaper's report of a massive turnout in Friday's election, the head of the Pan-African parliament observer mission in Zimbabwe said turnout had been "very, very low". African Union (AU) foreign ministers have gathered in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh, before a full meeting of heads of state on Monday which Mr Mugabe is expected to attend.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY If the UN doesn't intervene this time we are truly damnedRejoice, Bulawayo class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5025">Send us your comments The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a monitoring group, reported that people in most rural areas had been forced to vote. Earlier the Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said sanctions against Zimbabwe are unlikely to work, and that Mr Mugabe and the opposition should instead be encouraged to talk.
But Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says that in some cases, voters expressed their anger against the violence by calling Mr Mugabe a murderer on the ballot papers. Push for negotiations
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), announced he was pulling out of the election on Sunday.Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), announced he was pulling out of the election on Sunday.
But his name remained on ballot papers after Zimbabwe's electoral authorities refused to accept his decision.But his name remained on ballot papers after Zimbabwe's electoral authorities refused to accept his decision.
HAVE YOUR SAY If the UN doesn't intervene this time we are truly damnedRejoice, Bulawayo Send us your comments
In interviews published in British newspapers on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said he would push for negotiations with Mr Mugabe on a new constitution and fresh elections.
"We have the power to control parliament, and that is recognised even by Mugabe's Zanu-PF... We must force a transitional agreement for a set time-frame and work towards a new constitution for Zimbabwe," he told the Mail on Sunday.
"I am confident we can achieve that if international pressure keeps up," he added.
In a separate interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Tsvangirai said it was possible that Mr Mugabe could remain as a ceremonial head of state.
"I don't think it's inconceivable for such an arrangement to include him, depending, of course, on the details of what is being proposed and what are the arrangements," he said.
Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.
Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF.Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF.
The government blames the MDC for the violence.The government blames the MDC for the violence.
Diplomatic efforts
US President George W Bush has called for strong international action against what he called the "illegitimate" government of Zimbabwe.
In a statement, Mr Bush said his secretaries of state and the treasury were working on the penalties. He added he would press for international action, including an arms embargo.
He said the move was in response to "the Mugabe regime's blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean people's democratic will and human rights".
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing to try to find a solution to the crisis.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula has said sanctions against Zimbabwe are unlikely to work, and that Mr Mugabe and the opposition should instead be encouraged to talk.
He was speaking at a meeting of African Union (AU) foreign ministers in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh, before a full meeting of heads of state on Monday which Mr Mugabe is expected to attend.
Are you in Zimbabwe? What did you think of the run-off? What do you think should happen now? Tell the BBC your experiences by using the form below. Let us know if you would prefer us not to use your real name.Are you in Zimbabwe? What did you think of the run-off? What do you think should happen now? Tell the BBC your experiences by using the form below. Let us know if you would prefer us not to use your real name.
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