Zimbabwe's election results soon to be released

by cynthia yoo | March 30, 2008 at 07:22 pm

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It looks like Zimbabwe's hotly contested and controversial election results will be released within a few hours.

The delay in announcing official presidential poll results has fuelled speculation about vote rigging.

Riot police have been patrolling the capital, Harare, and residents have been told to stay indoors.

The poll pitted the opposition MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai and the independent Simba Makoni against President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's leader since 1980.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - the country's main opposition party - is claiming victory, on the basis of the partial, unofficial results.

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu accused the MDC of "speculation and lies" and "causing unnecessary havoc".

"The first results will start to be published at 0600 (0400 GMT)," on Monday, said George Chiweshe, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, late on Sunday.