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| UK 'will stand with Zimbabweans' | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the UK "stands with" the people of Zimbabwe as it awaits the results of its recent elections. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the UK "stands with" the people of Zimbabwe as it awaits the results of its recent elections. |
| He told MPs the country had the "opportunity" of a "democratic future". | He told MPs the country had the "opportunity" of a "democratic future". |
| The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has claimed victory in Saturday's poll but results have not been published. | The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has claimed victory in Saturday's poll but results have not been published. |
| Mr Miliband said the delay had been a "calculated tactic" by President Robert Mugabe's regime. | Mr Miliband said the delay had been a "calculated tactic" by President Robert Mugabe's regime. |
| He added that the "playing field" had been "tilted heavily" in favour of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. | He added that the "playing field" had been "tilted heavily" in favour of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. |
| 'Duty to announce' | |
| Mr Miliband also said conditions for free and fair elections must be in place if a second round of voting is called. | Mr Miliband also said conditions for free and fair elections must be in place if a second round of voting is called. |
| He told MPs: "Last Saturday the people of Zimbabwe made their choice. | |
| "Outside the 9,400 polling stations, the tallies have been posted. The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission knows what those results are, and has a duty to announce them. | |
| "The delay in announcing the outcome can only be seen as a deliberate and calculated tactic. | |
| "It gives substance to the suspicion that the authorities are reluctant to accept the will of the people." | |
| 'Repression' | |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said years of "brutality and repression" in Zimbabwe had made it a "political pressure-cooker". | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said years of "brutality and repression" in Zimbabwe had made it a "political pressure-cooker". |
| It would "no doubt take more than his [Mr Mugabe's] departure for the country to recover" from years of corruption and economic decline, he added. | It would "no doubt take more than his [Mr Mugabe's] departure for the country to recover" from years of corruption and economic decline, he added. |
| Earlier, Commons leader Harriet Harman, standing in for Gordon Brown at prime minister's questions, said MPs felt "concern and solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe and that they should have their democratic election respected and recognised". | |
| Ms Harman added that the UK was Zimbabwe's biggest donor and would be "ready to step up that support" together with the international community. | Ms Harman added that the UK was Zimbabwe's biggest donor and would be "ready to step up that support" together with the international community. |
| On Monday Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the "eyes of the world" were on the country and that the results of Saturday's poll should be published. | On Monday Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the "eyes of the world" were on the country and that the results of Saturday's poll should be published. |
| He is attending an international summit in Romania. | He is attending an international summit in Romania. |