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Mugabe rival 'clear victor' - US | Mugabe rival 'clear victor' - US |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was the "clear victor" of last month's poll, a top US envoy says. | Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was the "clear victor" of last month's poll, a top US envoy says. |
Jendayi Frazer was speaking in South Africa, at the start of a tour to lobby Zimbabwe's neighbours to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe. | Jendayi Frazer was speaking in South Africa, at the start of a tour to lobby Zimbabwe's neighbours to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe. |
The results of the presidential election have not been released. | The results of the presidential election have not been released. |
Mr Tsvangirai says he won outright but the ruling party has said no candidate gained 50% of the vote, so a run-off will be needed. | Mr Tsvangirai says he won outright but the ruling party has said no candidate gained 50% of the vote, so a run-off will be needed. |
The opposition says its supporters are being attacked ahead of a possible run-off - claims denied by the government. | The opposition says its supporters are being attacked ahead of a possible run-off - claims denied by the government. |
Mugabe is living on borrowed time John SentamuArchbishop of York class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7365825.stm">Profile: Jendayi Frazer | |
Earlier, the leaders of the Anglican church called for international action to prevent violence in Zimbabwe reaching "horrific levels". | Earlier, the leaders of the Anglican church called for international action to prevent violence in Zimbabwe reaching "horrific levels". |
Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry official said a ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe might return to China. | Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry official said a ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe might return to China. |
'Accept result' | 'Accept result' |
Independent Zimbabwean monitors say Mr Tsvangirai gained 49% of the vote - just short of the threshold for outright victory - but more than President Mugabe. | Independent Zimbabwean monitors say Mr Tsvangirai gained 49% of the vote - just short of the threshold for outright victory - but more than President Mugabe. |
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says its leader gained 50.3% and so should be declared the winner. | The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says its leader gained 50.3% and so should be declared the winner. |
ZIMBABWE'S NEIGHBOURS | ZIMBABWE'S NEIGHBOURS |
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been under fire over March's disputed elections. His neighbours have been supportive but regional differences are now emerging. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been under fire over March's disputed elections. His neighbours have been supportive but regional differences are now emerging. |
South Africa's President Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC, and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line. | South Africa's President Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC, and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line. |
Zambian President Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. His call for Africa not to let a ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe dock will outrage President Mugabe. | Zambian President Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. His call for Africa not to let a ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe dock will outrage President Mugabe. |
Angola's government has close ties to Zimbabwe's ruling party - both came to power after fighting colonial rule in the 1970s. | Angola's government has close ties to Zimbabwe's ruling party - both came to power after fighting colonial rule in the 1970s. |
Botswana is not seen as an ally of Robert Mugabe. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai fled here after polls. | Botswana is not seen as an ally of Robert Mugabe. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai fled here after polls. |
Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it too is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. | Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it too is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. |
Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition. | Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition. |
Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and is unlikely to criticise him. | Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and is unlikely to criticise him. |
DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. | DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. |
Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were sometimes assaulted during farm invasions. | Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were sometimes assaulted during farm invasions. |
BACKNEXT1 of 9 | BACKNEXT1 of 9 |
There have been some suggestions that a government of national unity would be the best way of solving the impasse. | There have been some suggestions that a government of national unity would be the best way of solving the impasse. |
"We think in this situation we have a clear victor," said Ms Frazer, the senior US envoy to Africa. | "We think in this situation we have a clear victor," said Ms Frazer, the senior US envoy to Africa. |
"Morgan Tsvangirai won and perhaps outright, at which point you don't need a government of national unity. You have to accept the result." | "Morgan Tsvangirai won and perhaps outright, at which point you don't need a government of national unity. You have to accept the result." |
But she said that any results released would not have any credibility and added that: "There may need to be a political solution, a negotiated solution." | But she said that any results released would not have any credibility and added that: "There may need to be a political solution, a negotiated solution." |
This was a suggestion backed by Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ANC. | This was a suggestion backed by Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ANC. |
"The two parties must be made to talk," he told the BBC. | "The two parties must be made to talk," he told the BBC. |
Mr Tsvangirai has been in Mozambique, on the latest leg of his tour of African countries, trying to increase pressure on Mr Mugabe. | Mr Tsvangirai has been in Mozambique, on the latest leg of his tour of African countries, trying to increase pressure on Mr Mugabe. |
He is staying out of Zimbabwe, amid fears for his safety. | He is staying out of Zimbabwe, amid fears for his safety. |
Archbishop of York John Sentamu said President Mugabe "is living on borrowed time". | Archbishop of York John Sentamu said President Mugabe "is living on borrowed time". |
Archbishop Sentamu, who is originally from Uganda, also urged police and soldiers not to be used for political ends - some reports suggest the security forces have led attacks on opposition supporters. | Archbishop Sentamu, who is originally from Uganda, also urged police and soldiers not to be used for political ends - some reports suggest the security forces have led attacks on opposition supporters. |
"I am saying to the police officers and the army people... you are not there to prop up a government, you are not there to be used as an arm of repression." | "I am saying to the police officers and the army people... you are not there to prop up a government, you are not there to be used as an arm of repression." |
Ship 'recalled' | Ship 'recalled' |
The opposition said the weapons on board the Chinese ship would be used against its supporters and that 10 had been killed so far. | The opposition said the weapons on board the Chinese ship would be used against its supporters and that 10 had been killed so far. |
This was denied by Zanu-PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa. He said every country had the right to buy weapons. | This was denied by Zanu-PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa. He said every country had the right to buy weapons. |
This man says he was locked in a burning hut by ruling party militants | This man says he was locked in a burning hut by ruling party militants |
The US has urged China to recall the ship - the An Yue Jiang, which was not allowed to unload in South Africa - before the cargo could be transported to landlocked Zimbabwe. | The US has urged China to recall the ship - the An Yue Jiang, which was not allowed to unload in South Africa - before the cargo could be transported to landlocked Zimbabwe. |
The British government has also called for an international arms embargo on Zimbabwe. | The British government has also called for an international arms embargo on Zimbabwe. |
Zambia's president urged African countries not to let the arms, which reportedly include three million rounds of ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds, pass through their territories. | Zambia's president urged African countries not to let the arms, which reportedly include three million rounds of ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds, pass through their territories. |
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu condemned the US intervention but said she thought the ship would return, as it has not been able to dock. | Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu condemned the US intervention but said she thought the ship would return, as it has not been able to dock. |
"To my knowledge, the Chinese company has decided to recall the ship," she said. | "To my knowledge, the Chinese company has decided to recall the ship," she said. |
However, the shipping company said it could not confirm this. | However, the shipping company said it could not confirm this. |
It had been reported that the ship was headed for Angola, which is a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. | It had been reported that the ship was headed for Angola, which is a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. |
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it cannot release the presidential results until a recount of 23 parliamentary results is completed. | The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it cannot release the presidential results until a recount of 23 parliamentary results is completed. |
The parliamentary results show that the ruling Zanu-PF party lost its majority for the first time since independence in 1980. | The parliamentary results show that the ruling Zanu-PF party lost its majority for the first time since independence in 1980. |
But this could change if the recount reverses the initial results. | But this could change if the recount reverses the initial results. |
So far, two recounts have been finished - both have confirmed the original results. | So far, two recounts have been finished - both have confirmed the original results. |
Much of the reported violence has been in rural areas which Zanu-PF has lost to the MDC in this election. The campaign for the 29 March election was relatively peaceful. | Much of the reported violence has been in rural areas which Zanu-PF has lost to the MDC in this election. The campaign for the 29 March election was relatively peaceful. |