OPPOSITIION WINS ZIMBABWE ASSEMBLY !
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament.
The rivals
The rivals
Zimbabwe's main opposition party has won a majority of seats in parliament, displacing the ruling Zanu-PF, final official results show.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) took 99 seats, while President Robert Mugabe's party polled 97.
With presidential election results yet to be declared, the MDC said its leader had won, but Zanu-PF denied this.
Senior Zanu-PF figures are due to meet on Friday to decide whether to contest any presidential run-off.
Brian Hungwe in Harare says the party is split into two factions and the politburo meeting is set to be a defining moment for the country.
Zimbabwean analyst Peter Kagwanja told the BBC he expected Mr Mugabe to run, but given the splits within Zanu-PF one possible option would be for moves towards some kind of unity government.
Five days after the polls, frustration is growing at the failure of the Zimbabwe Election Commission to declare any presidential results.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the results of the presidential election now had to be announced swiftly.
Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said no clear winner had emerged in the presidential poll.
In the event of a run-off against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, he said Mr Mugabe would fight on.
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off
Source: ZEC
"He's a fighter," said Mr Matonga. "And he fights best when he's put in a corner like this."
The MDC released its own results to back up its claim of victory in the presidential poll, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting.
But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off.
MDC Party Secretary General Tendai Biti said the party would be prepared to take part in a run-off if the ZEC decided neither of the main candidates had won outright.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said official results of the presidential election should be announced swiftly.
The MDC released its own results to back up its claim of victory in the presidential poll, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting.
But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off.
MDC Party Secretary General Tendai Biti said the party would be prepared to take part in a run-off if the ZEC decided neither of the main candidates had won outright.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said official results of the presidential election should be announced swiftly.
In elections for the 210-member assembly, an offshoot MDC faction at odds with Mr Tsvangirai won 10 seats, according to the ZEC's final results.
Mr Mugabe has not been seen in public since Saturday's elections
One seat was won by an independent candidate and polling in three constituencies was postponed as candidates died in the run-up to elections.
Wilf Mbanga, editor of the UK-based Zimbabwean newspaper, told the BBC the postponed elections could hand more seats to the MDC.
"The three seats are in what were previously safe MDC areas," he said.
While the parliamentary victory is significant, Mr Mugabe has changed Zimbabwe's constitution several times in the past 28 years to leave most power in the president's hands, says the BBC's Grant Ferrett in neighbouring South Africa.
There are real fears of unrest if the presidential contest enters a second round, our correspondent adds.
Mr Mugabe has not been seen in public since Saturday's elections
One seat was won by an independent candidate and polling in three constituencies was postponed as candidates died in the run-up to elections.
Wilf Mbanga, editor of the UK-based Zimbabwean newspaper, told the BBC the postponed elections could hand more seats to the MDC.
"The three seats are in what were previously safe MDC areas," he said.
While the parliamentary victory is significant, Mr Mugabe has changed Zimbabwe's constitution several times in the past 28 years to leave most power in the president's hands, says the BBC's Grant Ferrett in neighbouring South Africa.
There are real fears of unrest if the presidential contest enters a second round, our correspondent adds.
In a separate development, a senior Zanu-PF official has told the BBC he believes Mr Mugabe has been fatally damaged.
The official, who did not want to be identified, said that by not declaring victory on Sunday or Monday, Mr Mugabe had shown weakness.
Now civil servants and police were determined to show even-handedness in their treatment of the Zanu-PF and the opposition, he said.
Zanu-PF has rejected suggestions that talks have been taking place with the MDC on a possible handover of power.
MDC sources had earlier told the BBC that the outline of an agreement had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to leave office.
Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election but Mr Matonga has denied rumours the president had left the country.
Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN told the BBC the president had no intention of leaving the country.
"Robert Mugabe is Zimbabwean," said Boniface Chidyausiku. "He has lived his life to work for Zimbabwe. Why should he choose another country?"
He came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.
The official, who did not want to be identified, said that by not declaring victory on Sunday or Monday, Mr Mugabe had shown weakness.
Now civil servants and police were determined to show even-handedness in their treatment of the Zanu-PF and the opposition, he said.
Zanu-PF has rejected suggestions that talks have been taking place with the MDC on a possible handover of power.
MDC sources had earlier told the BBC that the outline of an agreement had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to leave office.
Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election but Mr Matonga has denied rumours the president had left the country.
Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN told the BBC the president had no intention of leaving the country.
"Robert Mugabe is Zimbabwean," said Boniface Chidyausiku. "He has lived his life to work for Zimbabwe. Why should he choose another country?"
He came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
Labels: Zimbabwe Election Results MDC Mugabe Zanu-PF Tsvangirai Biti ZEC
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