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| Zimbabwe announces poll results | Zimbabwe announces poll results |
| (9 minutes 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 Mr Mugabe said the result brought no surprises. | A spokesman for Mr Mugabe said the result brought no surprises. |
| 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. ZIMBABWE ELECTION RESULTS Morgan Tsvangirai: 47.9% (1,195,562 votes)Robert Mugabe: 43.2% (1,079,730 votes)Simba Makoni: 8.3% (207,470 votes)Langton Towungana: 0.6% (14,503 votes) Source: Electoral Commission class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7380661.stm">Reaction: In quotes | |
| 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. |
| Correspondents say Mr Makoni is widely expected to back Mr Tsvangirai in any run-off. | Correspondents say Mr Makoni is widely expected to back Mr Tsvangirai in any run-off. |
| 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. |
| "That has now been confirmed, there's no outright winner, pointing to a run-off," he said. | "That has now been confirmed, there's no outright winner, pointing to a run-off," 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. If no-one achieves that, then there's going to be a run-off so we are following our constitution, not people's wishes." | "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. If no-one achieves that, then there's going to be a run-off so we are following our constitution, not people's wishes." |
| Observers needed | Observers needed |
| Mr Tsvangirai has in the past said he would not take part in a run-off unless international observers were involved and says he won outright with 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 and says he won outright with 50.3% of the vote. |
| "This whole thing is a scandal, scandalous daylight robbery and everyone knows that," said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa. | "This whole thing is a scandal, scandalous daylight robbery and everyone knows that," said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa. |
| 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 |
| "We won this election outright, and yet what we are being given here as the outcome are some fudged figures meant to save Mugabe and Zanu-PF." | "We won this election outright, and yet what we are being given here as the outcome are some fudged figures meant to save Mugabe and Zanu-PF." |
| 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. |
| "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 officials have been accused of trying to rig the elections in favour of the MDC. | The officials have been accused of trying to rig the elections in favour of the MDC. |
| MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC that the process to verify the electoral result was "aborted prematurely" as the MDC was trying to "expose fraud". | MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC that the process to verify the electoral result was "aborted prematurely" as the MDC was trying to "expose fraud". |
| Mr Biti said the party would go to court to try to declare Mr Tsvangirai the next president of Zimbabwe on the basis that he won more votes than Robert Mugabe. | Mr Biti said the party would go to court to try to declare Mr Tsvangirai the next president of Zimbabwe on the basis that he won more votes than Robert Mugabe. |
| Fleeing violence | Fleeing violence |
| 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. |