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| Zimbabwe announces poll results | Zimbabwe announces poll results |
| (5 days later) | |
| The long-awaited results of Zimbabwe's presidential poll have been announced, with the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai winning 47.9%, forcing a second round. | The long-awaited results of Zimbabwe's presidential poll have been announced, with the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai winning 47.9%, forcing a second round. |
| Election officials say Mr Tsvangirai beat President Robert Mugabe's 43.2%, but neither candidate passed the 50% threshold for an outright win. | Election officials say Mr Tsvangirai beat President Robert Mugabe's 43.2%, but neither candidate passed the 50% threshold for an outright win. |
| A spokesman for 84-year-old Mr Mugabe says he will stand in a run-off vote. | A spokesman for 84-year-old Mr Mugabe says he will stand in a run-off vote. |
| But Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the result was "scandalous daylight robbery". | But Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the result was "scandalous daylight robbery". |
| The MDC accuses ruling party supporters of rigging the vote and of launching a campaign of intimidation and violence following the elections on 29 March. | The MDC accuses ruling party supporters of rigging the vote and of launching a campaign of intimidation and violence following the elections on 29 March. |
| It says the delay in announcing the results was to give pro-government militants time to organise and carry out their attacks. | It says the delay in announcing the results was to give pro-government militants time to organise and carry out their attacks. |
| Reaction: In quotesTough call for opposition | Reaction: In quotesTough call for opposition |
| Zanu-PF party says the scale of the violence has been exaggerated and accuses the MDC of staging political attacks. | Zanu-PF party says the scale of the violence has been exaggerated and accuses the MDC of staging political attacks. |
| Chief Elections Officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said former Finance Minister Simba Makoni came third with 8.3%. | Chief Elections Officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said former Finance Minister Simba Makoni came third with 8.3%. |
| He said a date for the second round between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai would be announced later. It should be held within three weeks. | He said a date for the second round between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai would be announced later. It should be held within three weeks. |
| Mr Makoni held back from endorsing either candidate after the results announcement, saying instead Zimbabwe could not afford another round of voting, the AFP news agency reports. | Mr Makoni held back from endorsing either candidate after the results announcement, saying instead Zimbabwe could not afford another round of voting, the AFP news agency reports. |
| "The way forward for this country is for the political leaders to work together," he said. | "The way forward for this country is for the political leaders to work together," he said. |
| A spokesman for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, Bright Matonga, told the BBC that both main parties had been aware that no-one had won outright. | A spokesman for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, Bright Matonga, told the BBC that both main parties had been aware that no-one had won outright. |
| Chief elections officer announces the results | |
| "The laws of Zimbabwe and the constitution clearly states that for one to be an outright winner, they have to achieve 50 [per cent] plus one," he said. | "The laws of Zimbabwe and the constitution clearly states that for one to be an outright winner, they have to achieve 50 [per cent] plus one," he said. |
| "We are following our constitution, not people's wishes." | "We are following our constitution, not people's wishes." |
| MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai should be declared president, as he had gained 50.3% of the vote. | MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai should be declared president, as he had gained 50.3% of the vote. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has in the past said he would not take part in a run-off unless international observers were involved. | Mr Tsvangirai has in the past said he would not take part in a run-off unless international observers were involved. |
| He has moved out of Zimbabwe amid fears for his safety. | He has moved out of Zimbabwe amid fears for his safety. |
| Before the official results were announced, the MDC had queried 120,000 votes given to Mr Mugabe - which they say could have tipped the balance in the president's favour and stopped Mr Tsvangirai winning outright. | Before the official results were announced, the MDC had queried 120,000 votes given to Mr Mugabe - which they say could have tipped the balance in the president's favour and stopped Mr Tsvangirai winning outright. |
| "This whole thing is a scandal, scandalous daylight robbery," said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa, after the results were announced. | "This whole thing is a scandal, scandalous daylight robbery," said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa, after the results were announced. |
| "What we are being given here as the outcome are some fudged figures meant to save Mugabe and Zanu-PF." | "What we are being given here as the outcome are some fudged figures meant to save Mugabe and Zanu-PF." |
| But projections from independent monitors were similar to the official results, with Mr Tsvangirai just short of the threshold for outright victory. | But projections from independent monitors were similar to the official results, with Mr Tsvangirai just short of the threshold for outright victory. |
| Observers needed | Observers needed |
| The UK and United States have raised doubts about the results and the possibility of a second round being fair. | The UK and United States have raised doubts about the results and the possibility of a second round being fair. |
| The UK Foreign Office said the results "lack credibility", adding that a second round would not be fair unless the violence ended and more international monitors were present. | The UK Foreign Office said the results "lack credibility", adding that a second round would not be fair unless the violence ended and more international monitors were present. |
| Robert Mugabe came second in the vote but is determined to keep fighting | Robert Mugabe came second in the vote but is determined to keep fighting |
| "President Mugabe's campaign of violence and intimidation coupled with the arrest of 99 electoral commission officials in the last month show exactly how Zanu-PF will approach any second round," a spokeswoman said. | "President Mugabe's campaign of violence and intimidation coupled with the arrest of 99 electoral commission officials in the last month show exactly how Zanu-PF will approach any second round," a spokeswoman said. |
| The election officials have been accused of trying to rig the elections in favour of the MDC. | The election officials have been accused of trying to rig the elections in favour of the MDC. |
| US state department spokesman Tom Casey said it was hard to see how a run-off could be fair "when the government has done everything it could to both delay and obscure the results". | US state department spokesman Tom Casey said it was hard to see how a run-off could be fair "when the government has done everything it could to both delay and obscure the results". |
| The MDC and human rights groups say there has been a massive campaign of violence against opposition activists in rural areas in anticipation of a run-off vote. | The MDC and human rights groups say there has been a massive campaign of violence against opposition activists in rural areas in anticipation of a run-off vote. |
| The MDC says hundreds of people have fled their homes and 20 have been killed. | The MDC says hundreds of people have fled their homes and 20 have been killed. |
| On Thursday, the defence minister in neighbouring Botswana said Zimbabweans were fleeing the violence, with almost 100 people arriving in the past three days. | On Thursday, the defence minister in neighbouring Botswana said Zimbabweans were fleeing the violence, with almost 100 people arriving in the past three days. |
| He said in the past, Zimbabweans had been economic migrants but now they were seeking political asylum. | He said in the past, Zimbabweans had been economic migrants but now they were seeking political asylum. |
| There have been similar reports from Mozambique. | There have been similar reports from Mozambique. |