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| Mugabe 'prepared to face run-off' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is ready to contest a second round of the presidential election, a spokesman for his ruling Zanu-PF party says. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is ready to contest a second round of the presidential election, a spokesman for his ruling Zanu-PF party says. |
| Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said if results from Saturday's election showed a second round was necessary, Mr Mugabe would stand. | Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said if results from Saturday's election showed a second round was necessary, Mr Mugabe would stand. |
| Official results from the presidential poll have yet to be issued, but the opposition says it won the vote. | Official results from the presidential poll have yet to be issued, but the opposition says it won the vote. |
| Mr Mugabe has been seen on state TV meeting African Union observers. | Mr Mugabe has been seen on state TV meeting African Union observers. |
| Mr Matonga told the BBC: "If there is no clear winner, the laws stress that you have to go for a run-off." | Mr Matonga told the BBC: "If there is no clear winner, the laws stress that you have to go for a run-off." |
| Under election rules, a candidate needs to win just over 50% of the vote to avoid a second round. | Under election rules, a candidate needs to win just over 50% of the vote to avoid a second round. |
| "President Mugabe is going to fight to the last, and he's not giving up, he's not going anywhere, he hasn't lost the election," said Mr Matonga. | "President Mugabe is going to fight to the last, and he's not giving up, he's not going anywhere, he hasn't lost the election," said Mr Matonga. |
| Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament The rivals | Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament The rivals |
| Zanu-PF was leading in the popular vote, he said. If translated into a presidential vote, that would mean victory for Mr Mugabe, he said. | Zanu-PF was leading in the popular vote, he said. If translated into a presidential vote, that would mean victory for Mr Mugabe, he said. |
| Dispute | Dispute |
| Official results from the parliamentary election, published by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Wednesday, gave Mr Mugabe's party the lead in terms of the popular vote - 45.9% to 42.8% for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | Official results from the parliamentary election, published by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Wednesday, gave Mr Mugabe's party the lead in terms of the popular vote - 45.9% to 42.8% for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). |
| But the MDC won a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF, final official results show. | But the MDC won a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF, final official results show. |
| Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC took 99 seats, while Mr Mugabe's party polled 97. A smaller MDC faction which backed former Zanu-PF minister Simba Makoni in the presidential polls won 10 seats leaving them in a powerful position. | Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC took 99 seats, while Mr Mugabe's party polled 97. A smaller MDC faction which backed former Zanu-PF minister Simba Makoni in the presidential polls won 10 seats leaving them in a powerful position. |
| With presidential election results still awaited, the MDC said on Wednesday that its leader had won, though Zanu-PF denied this. | With presidential election results still awaited, the MDC said on Wednesday that its leader had won, though Zanu-PF denied this. |
| The MDC released its own results to back up its claim of victory in the presidential poll, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting. | The MDC released its own results to back up its claim of victory in the presidential poll, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting. |
| ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Hope for change in ZimbabweIs Mugabe losing his grip?UK 'will stand with Zimbabweans' | ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Hope for change in ZimbabweIs Mugabe losing his grip?UK 'will stand with Zimbabweans' |
| But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off. | But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off. |
| Zanu-PF meeting | Zanu-PF meeting |
| Zanu-PF's leadership is holding a meeting on Friday to discuss strategy. Local reporters say the party is split on whether Mr Mugabe should fight on. | Zanu-PF's leadership is holding a meeting on Friday to discuss strategy. Local reporters say the party is split on whether Mr Mugabe should fight on. |
| State radio says that results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, are expected to be issued by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Thursday. | State radio says that results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, are expected to be issued by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Thursday. |
| In further international pressure, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the results of the presidential election now had to be announced swiftly. | In further international pressure, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the results of the presidential election now had to be announced swiftly. |
| Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages. | Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages. |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form below |