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| Observers denounce Zimbabwe vote | Observers denounce Zimbabwe vote |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Regional observers have said Zimbabwe's presidential poll did not reflect the will of the people, hours after Robert Mugabe was sworn in for another term. | Regional observers have said Zimbabwe's presidential poll did not reflect the will of the people, hours after Robert Mugabe was sworn in for another term. |
| The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) election observers said pre-poll violence had undermined the vote's credibility. | The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) election observers said pre-poll violence had undermined the vote's credibility. |
| BBC regional correspondent Peter Biles says it is a major blow for Mr Mugabe. | BBC regional correspondent Peter Biles says it is a major blow for Mr Mugabe. |
| Mr Mugabe claimed a landslide victory as the sole candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew. | Mr Mugabe claimed a landslide victory as the sole candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew. |
| The statement from the election observers comes on the eve of a summit of African Union (AU) leaders in Egypt which Mr Mugabe is expected to attend. | The statement from the election observers comes on the eve of a summit of African Union (AU) leaders in Egypt which Mr Mugabe is expected to attend. |
| OFFICIAL RESULTS Robert Mugabe: 2,150,269Morgan Tsvangirai: 233,000Spoiled ballots: 131,481Voter turnout: 42.37%Source: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission href="/1/hi/world/africa/7473667.stm">Africa's new 'Frontline States' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7480444.stm">Robert Mugabe subdued in victoryIn pictures: Mugabe's inauguration | |
| "The elections did not represent the will of the people of Zimbabwe," it said. | "The elections did not represent the will of the people of Zimbabwe," it said. |
| The head of Sadc's 400-person observer mission, Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, was quoted as saying: "The pre-election phase was characterised by politically-motivated violence, intimidation and displacements." | The head of Sadc's 400-person observer mission, Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, was quoted as saying: "The pre-election phase was characterised by politically-motivated violence, intimidation and displacements." |
| Another observer team, from the Pan-African Parliament, has called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair. | Another observer team, from the Pan-African Parliament, has called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair. |
| Our correspondent says the observers' reflections could lead southern African states to withhold recognition of Mr Mugabe as president and declare the election illegitimate, as some Western nations have already done. | Our correspondent says the observers' reflections could lead southern African states to withhold recognition of Mr Mugabe as president and declare the election illegitimate, as some Western nations have already done. |
| Footage from the swearing-in ceremony | Footage from the swearing-in ceremony |
| This in turn could pressure the AU into taking some form of action, he adds. | This in turn could pressure the AU into taking some form of action, he adds. |
| Led by the US and Britain, there has been growing international condemnation of the presidential election run-off, which was held on Friday. | Led by the US and Britain, there has been growing international condemnation of the presidential election run-off, which was held on Friday. |
| The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has appealed to the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe as president and called for UN-backed military intervention in Zimbabwe. | The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has appealed to the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe as president and called for UN-backed military intervention in Zimbabwe. |
| Talks with opposition? | Talks with opposition? |
| Mr Mugabe was sworn in during a quickly convened ceremony about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the results. | Mr Mugabe was sworn in during a quickly convened ceremony about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the results. |
type="text/css" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/dhtml_slides/css/styles_226.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" />class="h2_header">ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS | |
| Zimbabwe's opposition wants neighbouring countries to persuadeRobert Mugabe to step down. So how are relations changing? | |
| South Africa's Thabo Mbeki is the key mediator. He has not criticisedRobert Mugabe, despite pressure from the ruling ANC. | |
| Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the toughest line. He'scalled Zimbabwe a "regional embarrassment". | |
| Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies. He has urged Mr Mugabe to end the violence. | |
| Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about theviolence. It has supported Zimbabwe's opposition. | |
| Namibia is an ally of Robert Mugabe. It wants to re-distribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the violence. | |
| Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced out of Zimbabwe when their land was seized. It is seen as sympathetic to the opposition. | |
| Tanzania's ruling party has a history of backing Robert Mugabe'sZanu-PF party. Its foreign minister has condemned the violence. | |
| DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe whosent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. | |
| Malawi is seen as neutral. But 3m people from Malawi are in Zimbabweand many were badly hit by the farm invasions. | |
| BACKNEXT1 of 9 The commission said Mr Mugabe won 85.5% of the vote, but many ballots were spoiled. | |
| Turnout was about 42%, it said, similar to that of the disputed first-round vote in March. | Turnout was about 42%, it said, similar to that of the disputed first-round vote in March. |
| In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis. | In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis. |
| "It is my hope that sooner rather than later, we shall, as diverse political parties, hold consultation towards... dialogue as we minimise our differences and enhance the area of unity and co-operation," he said. | "It is my hope that sooner rather than later, we shall, as diverse political parties, hold consultation towards... dialogue as we minimise our differences and enhance the area of unity and co-operation," he said. |
| The mention of dialogue seems to be a response to pressure from within Africa to enter into talks with Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | The mention of dialogue seems to be a response to pressure from within Africa to enter into talks with Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). |
| Mr Tsvangirai refused to attend the inauguration, to which he was invited, and said Mr Mugabe now had no option but to negotiate. | Mr Tsvangirai refused to attend the inauguration, to which he was invited, and said Mr Mugabe now had no option but to negotiate. |
| Mr Tsvangirai condemns Mr Mugabe's inauguration | |
| In a BBC interview, Mr Tsvangirai said that any negotiation should be based on the result of the first-round. | In a BBC interview, Mr Tsvangirai said that any negotiation should be based on the result of the first-round. |
| Mr Tsvangirai was ahead in that vote with 47.9% against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe, falling just short of an outright majority to take the presidency. | Mr Tsvangirai was ahead in that vote with 47.9% against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe, falling just short of an outright majority to take the presidency. |
| "We believe the 29 March election reflected the will of the people," he said. | "We believe the 29 March election reflected the will of the people," he said. |
| "That should be the basis upon which any negotiation... for a transition should be based." | "That should be the basis upon which any negotiation... for a transition should be based." |
| The results from the first round took the electoral commission five weeks to release, compared with less than two days for the run-off result. | The results from the first round took the electoral commission five weeks to release, compared with less than two days for the run-off result. |
| 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 MDC said some 86 of its supporters were killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the weeks preceding the run-off. | |
| The government has blamed the MDC for the violence. | The government has blamed the MDC for the violence. |
| The 84-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. | The 84-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. |
| 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. |