This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23530095

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Zimbabwe election 'compromised' Zimbabwe's Mugabe-Tsvangirai election 'compromised'
(35 minutes later)
This week's election in Zimbabwe was "seriously compromised" with up to a million people prevented from voting, a local observer group has said. This week's election in Zimbabwe was "seriously compromised" with up to a million people prevented from voting, the largest observers' group has said.
Most of those turned away were in urban areas, where support for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is strong, said the group, which had 7,000 observers. Most of those turned away were in urban areas, where support for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is strong, said the Zimbabwe Election Support Network.
It noted that fewer voters were rejected in rural areas, seen as strongholds of President Robert Mugabe.It noted that fewer voters were rejected in rural areas, seen as strongholds of President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Mugabe's allies are already claiming a victory in Wednesday's poll.Mr Mugabe's allies are already claiming a victory in Wednesday's poll.
"We've buried the MDC [Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change]," a senior party source told Reuters news agency."We've buried the MDC [Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change]," a senior party source told Reuters news agency.
It is illegal to publish unofficial results. The electoral commission has five days to declare who won the poll. It is illegal to publish unofficial results.
Vote counting started overnight, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has five days to declare who won the poll.
Regional observers have praised the peaceful nature of the election.Regional observers have praised the peaceful nature of the election.
Mugabe pledgeMugabe pledge
In a statement on Thursday, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said that potential voters were turned away from 82% of urban polling stations.In a statement on Thursday, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said that potential voters were turned away from 82% of urban polling stations.
In rural areas, it said, the percentage was less than half that.In rural areas, it said, the percentage was less than half that.
"The election is seriously compromised," ZESN chairman Solomon Zwana said."The election is seriously compromised," ZESN chairman Solomon Zwana said.
Mr Mugabe, 89, has pledged to step down after 33 years in power if he and his party lose.Mr Mugabe, 89, has pledged to step down after 33 years in power if he and his party lose.
Zanu-PF and the MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year. President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and and Mr Tsvangirai's MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year.
The first round of the 2008 poll was also praised for being peaceful - trouble broke out after the results were announced, with Mr Tsvangirai gaining more votes than Mr Mugabe.The first round of the 2008 poll was also praised for being peaceful - trouble broke out after the results were announced, with Mr Tsvangirai gaining more votes than Mr Mugabe.
'Dead' voters
On Tuesday, the MDC accused Zanu-PF of doctoring the roll of registered voters, which was released by the ZEC only on the eve of the polls after weeks of delay.
The MDC claimed the roll dated back to 1985 and was full of anomalies.
A BBC correspondent has seen the document and says it features the names of thousands of dead people.
MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti said there were as many as two million such names, while some genuine voters were not on the rolls.
"The greatest worry which we have is the number of persons that are being turned away," he added.
The MDC has already handed its evidence to observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
But a senior Zanu-PF member has denied the allegations, saying that that appointees from both parties were in the electoral commission.
In addition to Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, there are three other candidates standing for the presidency: Welshman Ncube, leader of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara; Dumiso Dabengwa of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), and Kisinoti Munodei Mukwazhe, who represents the small Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP).
To be declared a winner, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate reaches this mark, a run-off will be held on 11 September.
The elections were the first to be held under the new constitution approved in a referendum in March this year.
On Wednesday, voters were also electing the country's new parliament.