World News Story

05 December 2008 10:50 BST

Reunited Zimbabwe opposition urges Mugabe to go

The leading opposition party in Zimbabwe has ended years of internal division and reiterated its call for president Robert Mugabe to step down.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced the reunification of the main party with a breakaway faction, led by Arthur Mutambara, today.

Both men appeared at a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, demanding Mr Mugabe concede he lost last month's presidential election.

Four weeks after polls closed no winner has been declared, with Mr Tsvangirai claiming outright victory and officials from Mr Mugabe's party stating that a run-off is necessary after no candidate claimed a 50 per cent share of the vote.

Last weekend the Zimbabwe electoral commission (ZEC) confirmed the results of parliamentary elections, which combined with today's reunification will see Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party lose its 28-year grip on parliament.

Speaking in Johannesburg, Mr Tsvangirai said: "[Mr] Mugabe should concede that he cannot be president without controlling the parliament.

"The old man must go and have an honourable exit."

Mr Tsvangirai added that he had no intention of contesting a presidential run-off, arguing that the "people have spoken... the people have decided".

Mr Mutambara, whose breakaway faction split from the MDC in a row over elections three years ago, accused the president of trying "to sabotage the will of the people".

Meanwhile, it was claimed on Monday that the ZEC is preparing to release the full results of March's presidential poll on Tuesday, amid growing international unrest over the month-long delay.