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| Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai angry with Mugabe over 'poll date' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has unilaterally declared that elections will be held on 31 July, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has unilaterally declared that elections will be held on 31 July, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said. |
| He would not accept the date, saying Mr Mugabe had acted "unconstitutionally". | |
| Mr Tsvangirai has been pushing for key reforms as a condition for elections. | Mr Tsvangirai has been pushing for key reforms as a condition for elections. |
| Mr Mugabe has not officially announced an election date, but has said he would abide by a court ruling that they must be held by 31 July, heralding the end of Zimbabwe's coalition government. | Mr Mugabe has not officially announced an election date, but has said he would abide by a court ruling that they must be held by 31 July, heralding the end of Zimbabwe's coalition government. |
| 'Challenge' | |
| The two leaders formed the fractious coalition in 2009 under pressure from regional leaders following elections marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging. | The two leaders formed the fractious coalition in 2009 under pressure from regional leaders following elections marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging. |
| Mr Mugabe, 89, and Mr Tsvangirai, 61, are both expected to contest the presidential election. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai told journalists in the capital, Harare, that Zimbabwe could not hold elections before 25 August, Reuters news agency reports. | Mr Tsvangirai told journalists in the capital, Harare, that Zimbabwe could not hold elections before 25 August, Reuters news agency reports. |
| However, Mr Mugabe had decided to set 31 July as the election date, he said. | However, Mr Mugabe had decided to set 31 July as the election date, he said. |
| "President Mugabe is acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally," Mr Tsvangirai said. | "President Mugabe is acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally," Mr Tsvangirai said. |
| "As prime minister I cannot and will not accept this." | "As prime minister I cannot and will not accept this." |
| About two weeks ago, Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court ruled that elections must take place by 31 July and Mr Mugabe should announce a date "as soon as possible". | |
| Mr Mugabe said he would abide by the ruling and the coalition had "outlived its usefulness". | |
| However, Mr Tsvangirai said the court should be asked to review its decision, as more time was needed to prepare for elections. | |
| Parliament is still considering a draft electoral law, under which all parties will be given access to the state broadcaster. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has also been pushing for reforms to the security agencies, which it says are allied to Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. | |
| Trevor Maisiri, southern Africa analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said the 2009 power-sharing deal requires Mr Mugabe to consult Mr Tsvangirai on an election date, AFP news agency reports. | |
| "The interpretation of the word consultation is a bit of a challenge," he is quoted as saying. | |
| The MDC argues that it means decisions have to be taken jointly, but Zanu-PF says that Mr Mugabe can decide "with their suggestions", Mr Maisiri said. | |
| Five years ago, Mr Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round of the presidential election but, according to official results, not enough to win outright. | |
| He pulled out of the second round, saying his supporters were being targeted in a campaign of violence. | |
| After Mr Mugabe went ahead with the election, winning with 85% of votes cast, regional mediators intervened to organise the power-sharing agreement. | |
| Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980. |