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'No deal' for Mugabe to step down 'No deal' for Mugabe to step down
(10 minutes later)
Zimbabwe's opposition leader and a government minister have denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.Zimbabwe's opposition leader and a government minister have denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday's election but declined to declare himself the winner.Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday's election but declined to declare himself the winner.
He said his party would reveal their tally of results on Wednesday.He said his party would reveal their tally of results on Wednesday.
Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal.Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal.
Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 82 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 78 for Zanu-PF, with 55 still to come.Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 82 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 78 for Zanu-PF, with 55 still to come.
'Speculation''Speculation'
In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "Let's not be influenced by speculation. There is no discussion, and therefore this is just a speculative story.In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "Let's not be influenced by speculation. There is no discussion, and therefore this is just a speculative story.
ROBERT MUGABE Born: 1924Trained as a teacher1961: Married Ghanaian Sally Hayfron1964: Imprisoned by Rhodesian government1980: Wins post-independence elections1996: Marries Grace Marufu2000: Loses referendum2000: Land invasions start2002: Wins presidential elections, dismissed by western observers2008: Runs for a sixth term as presidentROBERT MUGABE Born: 1924Trained as a teacher1961: Married Ghanaian Sally Hayfron1964: Imprisoned by Rhodesian government1980: Wins post-independence elections1996: Marries Grace Marufu2000: Loses referendum2000: Land invasions start2002: Wins presidential elections, dismissed by western observers2008: Runs for a sixth term as president
"There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result. That's the legal position."There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result. That's the legal position.
"We want to know who has won what before we can start talking about those kind, or even claim anything."We want to know who has won what before we can start talking about those kind, or even claim anything.
"We have no right to claim anything until ZEC has confirmed it. We know what we have won in terms of parliamentary seats, in terms of even the presidential vote, but that is internal to the MDC."We have no right to claim anything until ZEC has confirmed it. We know what we have won in terms of parliamentary seats, in terms of even the presidential vote, but that is internal to the MDC.
"It is not confirmed by the jurisdiction board that is supposed to announce those results. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there.""It is not confirmed by the jurisdiction board that is supposed to announce those results. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there."
He urged the ZEC "to proceed with haste, and I think two-and-a-half days is not haste at all".He urged the ZEC "to proceed with haste, and I think two-and-a-half days is not haste at all".
Zanu-PF's deputy information minister also sought to pour cold water on claims of a deal with the opposition.Zanu-PF's deputy information minister also sought to pour cold water on claims of a deal with the opposition.
"There are no discussions, no negotiations, and President Mugabe will not be going on state television to announce anything because there's nothing to announce.""There are no discussions, no negotiations, and President Mugabe will not be going on state television to announce anything because there's nothing to announce."
Call for results
MDC opposition sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of a deal had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to step down.MDC opposition sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of a deal had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to step down.
They said representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition had held meetings chaired by South Africa, but that government had also denied any involvement.They said representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition had held meetings chaired by South Africa, but that government had also denied any involvement.
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Parliamentary constituencies MDC-Tsvangirai: 77Zanu-PF: 78Breakaway MDC faction: 5Yet to declare: 55 Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Key role for security chiefsVoters react to delaysELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Parliamentary constituencies MDC-Tsvangirai: 77Zanu-PF: 78Breakaway MDC faction: 5Yet to declare: 55 Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Key role for security chiefsVoters react to delays
The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed.The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed.
Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race, but it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote.Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race, but it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote.
Mr Mugabe has not been seen in public since the election.Mr Mugabe has not been seen in public since the election.
As the world awaited final official results, the European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to step down. Meanwhile, calls have been made around the world for the release of official results.
"If Mr Mugabe continues, there will be a coup d'etat," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency. US state department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said in Washington: "Delays in that vote counting and delays in the release of the results are troubling, certainly given all the problems that we noted prior to the election."
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the immediate release of election results in the former British colony. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London: "Results should be published immediately and the elections must be seen to be fair."
HAVE YOUR SAYLets hope that the next leader will be able to achieve the best for ZimbabweCB, USSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYLets hope that the next leader will be able to achieve the best for ZimbabweCB, USSend us your comments
"Results should be published immediately and the elections must be seen to be fair," he told reporters in London. "It's very important that the democratic rights of the Zimbabwe people be respected and upheld and recognised." The European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to step down.
"If Mr Mugabe continues, there will be a coup d'etat," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency.
Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years.Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years.
Zimbabweans are suffering the world's highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and life expectancy of 35 years.Zimbabweans are suffering the world's highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and life expectancy of 35 years.