Zimbabwe officials: Mugabe lost presidential vote
Thursday, 01 May 2008 19:23
Robert Mugabe faces a run-off vote
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The AFP news agency has quoted
Zimbabwe officials as claiming president Robert Mugabe came second to Morgan Tsvangirai in the country's presidential election.
AFP quoted officials as saying Mr Tsvangirai won 47.8 per cent of the vote in last month's elections, while Mr Mugabe won 43.2 per cent; the BBC has reported.
If the results are confirmed it would mean that neither candidate has secured enough votes for out-right victory and a run-off vote would be required.
Mr Mugabe has refused to step aside since the March 29th election after the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Mr Tsvangirai declared victory in the country's elections.
"As a people we voted and expressed ourselves democratically through the ballot and somebody is now trying to subvert our will," Mr Tsvangirai's spokesperson George Sibotshiwe told the Guardian newspaper.
"Mugabe needs to concede defeat and step down."
Recent weeks have seen reports of militia supporting the ruling Zanu-PF party roaming the streets of Zimbabwe's capital Harare.
There are fears their heavy presence could sway the results of a run-off vote, despite confirmation of the MDC's parliamentary victory over Zanu-PF.