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.
High Court judge Tendai Uchena rejected the Movement for Democratic Change's petition to force the electoral commission to release the result.
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.
But electoral officials have ordered a recount in a number of seats.
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.
Justice Uchena said he would publish the reasons for his ruling later.
'Sad day'
'Sad day'
MDC lawyer Andrew Makoni said it was a "sad day in Zimbabwe".
MDC lawyer Andrew Makoni said it was a "sad day in Zimbabwe".
Justice Uchena said he would publish the reasons for his ruling later.
The opposition vowed to press on with plans for a nationwide strike on Tuesday.
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.
There are reports that political violence appears to be escalating, with up to 1,000 people displaced at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
A woman in the remains of one of 15 huts allegedly razed by Zanu-PF militia
A woman in the remains of one of 15 huts allegedly razed by Zanu-PF militia
"We are calling on the public to speak against ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] for failing to release the results," MDC Vice-President Thokhozani Khupe was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"We have called for a mass stay-in, starting tomorrow, until the results are released."
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.
There are reports that political violence is escalating, with up to 1,000 people displaced at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
The MDC and human rights activists say the security forces are targeting opposition sympathisers to intimidate them ahead of any run-off.
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 electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
'Democracy gone wrong'
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 for the first time in the president's 28-year rule.
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.
Zimbabwean government spokesman Bright Matonga rejected opposition claims of ballot box stuffing, saying: "What we are doing is within the law."
Zimbabwean government spokesman Bright Matonga said: "What we are doing is within the law."
The contents of Zimbabwe's ballot boxes are still a matter of dispute
'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".
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.
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 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.
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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