Zimbabwe's High Court has ruled against an opposition demand for the electoral commission to immediately release last month's presidential election results.
Zimbabwe's High Court has ruled against an opposition demand for the electoral commission to immediately release last month's presidential election results.
The judge said the results could not be published until reports of anomalies in some seats had been investigated.
The judge said the outcome could not be published until reports of anomalies in some seats had been investigated.
The opposition said violence was escalating ahead of a possible run-off vote and that one of its supporters had been killed by Zanu-PF militia.
The opposition said violence was escalating ahead of a possible run-off vote and that one of its poll agents had been killed by Zanu-PF militia.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he defeated President Robert Mugabe.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he beat President Robert Mugabe outright.
But electoral officials have ordered a recount in a number of seats.
Electoral officials had said they could not release the result until after a recount of the 29 March poll in some seats, amid reports of irregularities.
'Sad day'
'Ridiculous'
MDC lawyer Andrew Makoni said it was a "sad day in Zimbabwe".
Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC the high court ruling was "absolutely ridiculous and incredible".
The opposition vowed to press on with plans for an open-ended nationwide strike on Tuesday.
The party also said one of their election agents had been killed at his home on Saturday evening, after being beaten and stabbed by Zanu-PF supporters.
Zanu-PF militia have allegedly razed huts in opposition areas
Zanu-PF militia have allegedly razed huts in opposition areas
Mr Chamisa said since the poll some 200 MDC elections agents and activists had been beaten up by ruling party activists attempting to intimidate them before any run-off.
About 1,000 people have reportedly been displaced by political violence at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
Amid ongoing tension, MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai is basing himself for now in neighbouring Botswana.
The opposition vowed to press on with plans for an open-ended nationwide strike on Tuesday.
MDC Vice-President Thokhozani Khupe was quoted by AFP news agency as saying: "We have called for a mass stay-in until the results are released."
MDC Vice-President Thokhozani Khupe was quoted by AFP news agency as saying: "We have called for a mass stay-in until the results are released."
But Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF welcomed the judgment and dismissed any suggestion the court was biased towards the ruling party.
BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says with rallies banned in Zimbabwe and its people afraid of the security forces, it is not clear how much impact the strike will have.
'Not ready'
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF welcomed Monday's ruling and dismissed any suggestion the court was biased towards the ruling party.
Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister, said: "How can you force the electoral commission to release results when it is not ready?"
Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister, said: "How can you force the electoral commission to release results when it is not ready?"
Independent tallies suggested Mr Tsvangirai - who is currently in South Africa meeting prominent officials - won the poll, but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would have to face a run-off.
The MDC and human rights activists say the security forces are targeting opposition sympathisers to intimidate them ahead of any run-off.
About 1,000 people have reportedly been displaced by the unrest at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
'Democracy gone wrong'
The electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
Zanu-PF requested a recount in 22 constituencies, while an MDC application for a recount in one seat has also been granted.
The contents of Zimbabwe's ballot boxes are still a matter of dispute
The contents of Zimbabwe's ballot boxes are still a matter of dispute
Independent tallies suggested Mr Tsvangirai won the poll, but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would have to face a run-off.
The MDC accuses Zanu-PF of trying to rig the election and said it would boycott any second poll.
The electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
Zanu-PF wanted a recount in 22 constituencies, while an MDC recount request in one seat has also been granted.
The parliamentary election saw Zanu-PF lose its majority for the first time in Mr Mugabe's 28-year rule.
The parliamentary election saw Zanu-PF lose its majority for the first time in Mr Mugabe's 28-year rule.
But the majority could be recovered if the ruling party is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount.
But the majority could be recovered if the ruling party is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount.
The speaker of the South African parliament, Baleka Mbete, has denounced the failure to publish the results of the presidential election as a case of "democracy gone wrong".
Miss Mbete is a political ally of Jacob Zuma, who is tipped to succeed Thabo Mbeki as South African president, and who last week himself criticised the delays in Zimbabwe.
After a summit of southern African leaders in Zambia at the weekend, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) called for the election results to be announced speedily.
After a summit of southern African leaders in Zambia at the weekend, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) called for the election results to be announced speedily.
But it did not urge Mr Mugabe to step aside, as the MDC had wished.
But it did not urge Mr Mugabe to step aside, as the MDC had wished.
Under President Mugabe, a drawn-out economic collapse in Zimbabwe has seen hyper-inflation, massive unemployment and the departure of hundreds of thousands of people.
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