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Tsvangirai rejects 'sham' ballot UN 'regrets' Zimbabwe election
(about 2 hours later)
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has described the country's election run-off as "an exercise in mass intimidation". The UN Security Council has said it deeply regrets Zimbabwe's decision to go ahead with the presidential run-off.
Mr Tsvangirai, who boycotted the poll because of violence, said people across Zimbabwe had been forced to take part and urged the world to reject the vote. It said conditions for a free and fair election did not exist, but stopped short of saying it was illegitimate.
The European Union and the US dismissed the vote as meaningless. President Robert Mugabe is assured of victory after opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai decided on a boycott. Results are expected later on Saturday.
Turnout is reported to have been low. President Robert Mugabe - the only candidate - is assured of victory. A top African Union diplomat said African leaders could find a credible solution to Zimbabwe's problems.
Official results are expected at the weekend. AU commission chairman Jean Ping emphasized that democracy and human rights were shared values of all the African Union countries.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a monitoring group, reported that people had been forced to vote in most rural areas. "We are here playing the role of guardian of these values, so when we see there has been violations of some of these shared values, it is our duty to react and call some of our members to order," he said.
A Zimbabwean journalist said militias loyal to Mr Mugabe had gone door-to-door in townships outside the capital, Harare, to coerce people. Mr Ping was speaking in Egypt ahead of next week's AU summit.
People will not feel safe moving about with an unmarked finger Zimbabwean citizen class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7478388.stm">Harare cowed for one-man poll class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7475154.stm">Election: At a glance class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7476935.stm">In pictures: Mugabe election 'Mass intimidation'
Despite the pressure, Marwick Khumalo, who heads of the Pan-African parliamentary observer mission, told the BBC that overall turnout had been low and the mood sombre. The European Union and the US earlier dismissed the vote as meaningless.
"We saw one long queue, which we mistook for a polling station, only to find the people were queuing for bread," he said, adding that the ingredients for a free and fair election were missing. Foreign ministers for the Group of Eight nations (G8) meeting in Japan said they could not accept the legitimacy of a government "that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people".
But Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the BBC that people were aiming to preserve Zimbabwe's independence. Morgan Tsvangirai on the day of polling
"They are voting to say no to the recolonisation of our country," he said.
As he cast his vote in Harare, Mr Mugabe, who is 84, said he was feeling "very fit, very optimistic".
Threat
Foreign ministers for the Group of Eight nations (G8) meeting in Japan have said they could not accept the legitimacy of a government "that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people".
Zimbabweans explain why they are voting in the election
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said they would consult other members of the UN Security Council to see what "next steps" might need to be taken.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said they would consult other members of the UN Security Council to see what "next steps" might need to be taken.
"There was a strong sentiment... that what is going on in Zimbabwe is simply unacceptable in the 21st century and it can't be ignored by the international community," she said.
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, read out a statement by the Security Council which said members "agreed that conditions for free and fair elections did not exist and it was a matter of deep regret that the election went ahead in these circumstances."The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, read out a statement by the Security Council which said members "agreed that conditions for free and fair elections did not exist and it was a matter of deep regret that the election went ahead in these circumstances."
The statement, backed by all 15 council members including South Africa, China and Russia, stopped short of declaring the election illegitimate because of South African opposition.The statement, backed by all 15 council members including South Africa, China and Russia, stopped short of declaring the election illegitimate because of South African opposition.
Mr Khalilzad added that the council would return to the issue in the coming days, and said that discussions had begun regarding a resolution to impose sanctions on Mr Mugabe's regime. People will not feel safe moving about with an unmarked finger Zimbabwean citizen class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7478388.stm">Harare cowed for one-man poll class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7475154.stm">Election: At a glance class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7476935.stm">In pictures: Mugabe election Mr Khalilzad added that the council would return to the issue in the coming days:
The BBC's John Simpson, in Harare despite a reporting ban, says he had never seen an election as frightening - where people know that if they fail to turn out to vote and do not have the ink stain to prove it, they are liable to the most ferocious retribution from the ruling Zanu-PF. "We have already started discussions with some colleagues on a resolution that would impose appropriately focused sanctions on the regime, assuming conditions continue as they have during the last period," he said.
He adds that if someone summoned up the courage to vote for Mr Tsvangirai - whose name is still on the ballot - there were fears their identity could be discovered. However, diplomats said that because of resistance from South Africa, China and Russia, any sanctions were unlikely to be imposed by the council.
Journalist Themba Nkosi in the southern city of Bulawayo said officials for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had told supporters in rural areas to vote if they felt their lives were in danger - and to vote for Morgan Tsvangirai or spoil their ballot. At a news conference held in Harare before polls closed, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai described the election as "an exercise in mass intimidation".
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY This election is a charade. Mugabe and his thugs have succeeded in driving out the opposition Nikolai, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5025">Send us your comments Mr Tsvangirai, who boycotted the poll because of violence, said people across Zimbabwe had been forced to take part and urged the international community to reject the vote.
A resident of Manicaland Province told the BBC: "I am not going to vote in a one-person race. I will not vote for a dictator and for hunger while my brother was killed in cold blood." Zimbabweans explain why they are voting in the election
But Zanu-PF supporter Richard Munsaka, in Hwange, Matebeland North Province said the question of a free and fair election "depends on the eyes of the beholder" and that violence was "not on a massive scale".
Protection
At a news conference held in Harare before polls closed, Mr Tsvangirai said people had been intimidated into voting but said millions had refused.
African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures
He called the poll a "sham" exercise staged by a "dictatorship desperate for the illusion of legitimacy".
Mr Tsvangirai also urged the international community to reject the results.
"Anyone who recognises the result of this election is denying the will of the Zimbabwean people," he said."Anyone who recognises the result of this election is denying the will of the Zimbabwean people," he said.
The MDC leader has been taking refuge at the Dutch embassy for most of the past six days.The MDC leader has been taking refuge at the Dutch embassy for most of the past six days.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a monitoring group, reported that people had been forced to vote in most rural areas.
Fear of retribution
A Zimbabwean journalist said militias loyal to Mr Mugabe had gone door-to-door in townships outside the capital, Harare, to coerce people.
HAVE YOUR SAY This election is a charade - Mugabe and his thugs have succeeded in driving out the opposition Nikolai, UK Send us your commentsDespite the pressure, Marwick Khumalo, who heads of the Pan-African parliamentary observer mission, told the BBC that overall turnout had been low and the mood sombre.
But Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said that people were aiming to preserve Zimbabwe's independence.
As he cast his vote in Harare, Mr Mugabe, who is 84, said he was feeling "very fit, very optimistic".
The BBC's John Simpson, in Harare despite a reporting ban, says he had never seen an election as frightening - where people know that if they fail to turn out to vote and do not have the ink stain to prove it, they are liable to the most ferocious retribution from the ruling Zanu-PF.
African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures
He adds that if someone summoned up the courage to vote for Mr Tsvangirai - whose name is still on the ballot - there were fears their identity could be discovered.
Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.
Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF.Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF.
The government blames the MDC for the violence. The government blames the MDC for the violence, but Mr Mugabe has suggested negotiations with the MDC were possible - "should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will".
On Friday Zimbabwe was discussed by African Union foreign ministers in the Egypt resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Voting is said to be slower than during the first round vote
Some AU members say the run-off should not have been held, while others, notably South Africa, refuse to criticise Mr Mugabe publicly,
"Our position is that the parties in Zimbabwe should work together," South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said.
AU leaders are due to meet on Monday in the resort.
While Mr Mugabe said he planned to attend the summit, he said the AU had "no right in dictating to us what we should do with our constitution, and how we should govern this country".
He has suggested negotiations with the MDC were possible - "should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will".
Mr Tsvangirai has said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off.Mr Tsvangirai has said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off.
If you are in Zimbabwe, voting or not, send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 or use the form below - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published:
If you are in Zimbabwe, whether you voted or not, send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 or use the form below - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published:
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