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Zimbabwe poll petition rejected Zimbabwe poll petition rejected
(40 minutes later)
A Zimbabwean court has ruled against an opposition demand for the immediate release of 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.
High Court judge Tendai Uchena rejected the Movement for Democratic Change's petition to force the electoral commission to release the result.High Court judge Tendai Uchena rejected the Movement for Democratic Change's petition to force the electoral commission to release the result.
The MDC says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the election outright, beating President Robert Mugabe.The MDC says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the election outright, beating President Robert Mugabe.
Regional leaders have urged the publication of the results. But electoral officials have ordered a recount in a number of seats.
BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says Monday's high court ruling is a setback for the MDC, but one for which the opposition had been braced.
'Sad day'
MDC lawyer Andrew Makoni said it was a "sad day in Zimbabwe".
Justice Uchena said he would publish the reasons for his ruling later.
Independent tallies suggested Mr Tsvangirai won the 29 March poll, but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would have to face a run-off vote.Independent tallies suggested Mr Tsvangirai won the 29 March poll, but took less than 50% of the vote, meaning he would have to face a run-off vote.
We cannot remain silent when we witness sufferings and violation of human rights Baleka MbeteSouth African parliamentary speaker class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4611&edition=1">Send us your comments There are reports that political violence appears to be escalating, with up to 1,000 people displaced at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
There could be even further delay as the government has ordered votes in certain constituencies to be recounted. President Mugabe has held power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980
The electoral commission says it is going ahead next Saturday with a recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies where it claims there have been irregularities. The MDC and human rights activists say the security forces are targeting opposition sympathisers to intimidate them ahead of any run-off.
The opposition said it will go ahead with plans for a nationwide strike on Tuesday.
The electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
The ruling Zanu-PF requested a recount in 22 seats, while an MDC application for a recount in one constituency has also been granted.The ruling Zanu-PF requested a recount in 22 seats, while an MDC application for a recount in one constituency has also been granted.
The parliamentary election saw Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lose its majority. The parliamentary election saw Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lose its majority for the first time in the president's 28-year rule.
But the majority could be recovered if Zanu-PF is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount.But the majority could be recovered if Zanu-PF is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount.
"They had custody of the ballot boxes for two weeks and they must have stuffed them with their votes," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said."They had custody of the ballot boxes for two weeks and they must have stuffed them with their votes," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.
Zimbabwean government spokesman Bright Matonga said: "There is a court process that we follow. What we are doing is within the law." Zimbabwean government spokesman Bright Matonga said: "What we are doing is within the law."
'Democracy gone wrong''Democracy gone wrong'
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".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".
"As parliamentarians, we cannot remain silent when we witness sufferings and violation of human rights. We can also not remain silent about the situation in Zimbabwe," she said.
President Mugabe has held power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980
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.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.
Mr Mbeki has been accused of failing to exert enough pressure on Mr Mugabe.Mr Mbeki has been accused of failing to exert enough pressure on Mr Mugabe.
After a summit of southern African leaders 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 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.
MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti described the summit outcome as a "major improvement".
But he called on Mr Mbeki to show "more vigour, more openness and a complete abandonment of the policy of quiet diplomacy".
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.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.
Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us about your experiences - send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us about your experiences - send us your comments using the form below.
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