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| 'No deal' for Mugabe to step down | 'No deal' for Mugabe to step down |
| (about 2 hours 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 90 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 85 for Zanu-PF, with 35 still to come. | |
| 'Vote for change' | 'Vote for change' |
| As calls grew around the world for the final official results, the White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had "voted for change". | As calls grew around the world for the final official results, the White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had "voted for change". |
| 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 president Profile: Robert Mugabe | 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 president Profile: Robert Mugabe |
| In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "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." | In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "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." |
| "It is not confirmed by the [ZEC]. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there," he added. | "It is not confirmed by the [ZEC]. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there," he added. |
| Zanu-PF's deputy information minister said: "There are no discussions, no negotiations." | Zanu-PF's deputy information minister said: "There are no discussions, no negotiations." |
| 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. |
| Call for results | Call for results |
| The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims the outcome was being fixed. | The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims the outcome was being fixed. |
| Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race. | Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race. |
| ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Parliamentary constituencies MDC-Tsvangirai: 85Zanu-PF: 85Breakaway MDC faction: 5Yet to declare: 35 Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Key role for security chiefsVoters react to delaysProfile: Morgan Tsvangirai | |
| But it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election. | But it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election. |
| The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%. | The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%. |
| Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%. | Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%. |
| Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election. | Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election. |
| Meanwhile, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said: "It's time for the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to confirm the results we have all seen from the local polling stations and respected NGOs." | Meanwhile, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said: "It's time for the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to confirm the results we have all seen from the local polling stations and respected NGOs." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYLets hope that the next leader will be able to achieve the best for ZimbabweCB, USSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYLets hope that the next leader will be able to achieve the best for ZimbabweCB, USSend us your comments |
| United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for calm and transparency during Zimbabwe's vote-counting process. | |
| Mr Ban urged the "utmost transparency be exercised so that the people of Zimbabwe can have full confidence in the process", his spokesman said. | |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, meanwhile, called for the results to be published "immediately". | |
| The European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to step down. | 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. | "If Mr Mugabe continues, there will be a coup d'etat," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency. |
| Results were posted for the first time in this election on the doors of Zimbabwe's polling stations, allowing groups such as the MDC and observers to compile independent results. | Results were posted for the first time in this election on the doors of Zimbabwe's polling stations, allowing groups such as the MDC and observers to compile independent results. |
| Mr Mugabe came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years. | Mr Mugabe 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 that has plunged to 35 years. | Zimbabweans are suffering the world's highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and life expectancy that has plunged to 35 years. |