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.
Judge Tendai Uchena rejected the Movement for Democratic Change's petition to order the publication of the outcome from the 29 March poll.
Judge Tendai Uchena rejected the Movement for Democratic Change's petition to order the publication of the outcome from the 29 March poll.
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.
Justice Uchena said he would publish the reasons for his ruling later.
The judge said that it would be wrong to release the results while reports of anomalies in some constituencies were being investigated.
'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".
The opposition vowed to press on with plans for a nationwide strike on Tuesday.
The opposition vowed to press on with plans for a nationwide strike on Tuesday.
A woman in the remains of one of 15 huts allegedly razed by Zanu-PF militia
Zanu-PF militia have allegedly razed huts in opposition areas
"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.
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."
"We have called for a mass stay-in, starting tomorrow, until the results are released."
But Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF welcomed the judgment 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?"
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 vote.
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 vote.
There are reports that political violence is escalating, with up to 1,000 people displaced at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
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 electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
'Democracy gone wrong'
'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 electoral commission says the recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 constituencies will start on Saturday.
The parliamentary election saw Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lose its majority for the first time in the president's 28-year rule.
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
But the majority could be recovered if Zanu-PF is awarded just nine of the 23 seats subject to a recount.
The parliamentary election saw Zanu-PF lose its majority for the first time in Mr Mugabe's 28-year rule.
Zimbabwean government spokesman Bright Matonga rejected opposition claims of ballot box stuffing, saying: "What we are doing is within the law."
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".
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.
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.
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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