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Mugabe claims 'sweeping victory' 'Big Mugabe win' in Zimbabwe poll
(30 minutes later)
Robert Mugabe has said he is heading for a "sweeping victory" in Zimbabwe's unopposed run-off presidential poll. Zimbabwe election officials have begun announcing results from the presidential poll, saying they indicate a landslide win for Robert Mugabe.
Officials have scheduled his inauguration for Sunday afternoon, even though official results are yet to be published. News agencies quoted them as saying results from eight of the country's 10 provinces showed Mr Mugabe winning all of them by huge margins.
He was the only candidate after the opposition boycotted the vote amid reports of violence and intimidation. He was the only candidate to run after the opposition boycotted the vote amid reports of state-sponsored violence.
African observers of the poll have called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair. He is due to be sworn in for a new five-year term as Zimbabwe's president.
Crucial reaction The ceremony is scheduled to take place shortly at Mr Mugabe's residence in Harare.
"The returns show that we are winning convincingly, that we have won in all the 26 constituencies in Harare, an MDC stronghold where we won in only one constituency in March. That is the trend," Mr Mugabe said in footage broadcast on state television. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was invited to the ceremony as a "gesture of engagement", but he rejected it as "meaningless".
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 "How can the party give its blessing to something it has rejected?" an MDC spokesman was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), announced he was pulling out of the election last Sunday. Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), announced he was pulling out of the election last 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.
Mr Mugabe had invited Mr Tsvangirai to witness his inauguration in a gesture of "engagement", Mr Mugabe's spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. Crucial reaction
But Mr Tsvangirai rejected the invitation and described the inauguration as "meaningless", the news agency reported.
The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says that having attempted to consolidate his position with the ceremony, Mr Mugabe is expected to fly to Egypt to attend an African Union summit which opens on Monday.The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says that having attempted to consolidate his position with the ceremony, Mr Mugabe is expected to fly to Egypt to attend an African Union summit which opens on Monday.
HAVE YOUR SAY If the UN doesn't intervene this time we are truly damnedRejoice, Bulawayo Send us your comments
The reaction of Zimbabwe's neighbours in southern Africa will be crucial, our correspondent says.The reaction of Zimbabwe's neighbours in southern Africa will be crucial, our correspondent says.
An observer team from the Pan-African Parliament on Sunday called on regional grouping Sadc and the African Union to facilitate talks between the government and opposition.An observer team from the Pan-African Parliament on Sunday called on regional grouping Sadc and the African Union to facilitate talks between the government and opposition.
The election observers have called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair.
International outrageInternational outrage
Earlier, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, urged the international community to intervene in Zimbabwe - by force if necessary.Earlier, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, urged the international community to intervene in Zimbabwe - by force if necessary.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaking to Andrew MarrArchbishop Desmond Tutu speaking to Andrew Marr
He said he would support the deployment of a UN force to restore peace in the country.He said he would support the deployment of a UN force to restore peace in the country.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Archbishop Tutu also said that African Union leaders should refuse to recognise Robert Mugabe as legitimate president of Zimbabwe.Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Archbishop Tutu also said that African Union leaders should refuse to recognise Robert Mugabe as legitimate president of Zimbabwe.
"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.""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."
There has also been international outrage at events in Zimbabwe.There has also been international outrage at events in Zimbabwe.
US President George Bush on Saturday instructed US officials to come up with new sanctions against Zimbabwe, and said the US would press for strong action by the UN. US President George W Bush on Saturday instructed US officials to come up with new sanctions against Zimbabwe, and said the US would press for strong action by the UN.
'Tents set up for ceremony'
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.
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 Morgan Tsvangirai
Earlier, officials said the count was complete, but later reports said results from rural areas were still trickling in.
The state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper in Harare said President Mugabe was "a man on an assignment" and that "assignment is yet to be completed; hence his continued stay in office".The state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper in Harare said President Mugabe was "a man on an assignment" and that "assignment is yet to be completed; hence his continued stay in office".
Reports said tents had already been erected in his State House residence for the ceremony to confirm his sixth term of office. 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 Morgan Tsvangirai
Systematic violence
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.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."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."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.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."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.
Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think should happen now? Tell 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 do you think should happen now? Tell 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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