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.
The judge said the results could not be published until reports of anomalies in some seats had been investigated.
The MDC says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the election outright, beating President Robert Mugabe.
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.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he defeated 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.
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 an open-ended nationwide strike on Tuesday.
Zanu-PF militia have allegedly razed huts in opposition areas
Zanu-PF militia have allegedly razed huts in opposition areas
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 Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF welcomed the judgment and dismissed any suggestion the court was biased towards the ruling party.
But Robert 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?"
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.
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.
About 1,000 people have reportedly been displaced by the unrest at Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe.
'Democracy gone wrong'
'Democracy gone wrong'
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.
Zanu-PF requested a recount in 22 constituencies, while an MDC application for a recount in one seat has also been granted.
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
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".
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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