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29 Jun 08
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Officials were reported as saying that, with two-thirds of the count completed, there had been a dramatic reversal of Morgan Tsvangirai's lead in the first round of elections three months ago, giving Mugabe a resounding victory before he heads to an African Union summit to confront growing criticism from the continent's other leaders.
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Washington called the vote a sham and said it will seek a UN Security Council resolution this week to send a 'strong message of deterrence' to Zimbabwe's leader. The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said Washington 'will use everything in our power for appropriate sanctions'. The US is also expected to press for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and a travel ban on its officials.
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The ballot appears to have produced a low turnout in cities, but terrorised voters were herded to the polls in some rural areas and intimidated into voting for Mugabe. He is apparently in a hurry to be sworn in so he can attend the AU summit in Egypt tomorrow from what he perceives to be a position of strength.
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'It's now a matter of peace and security,' said Tsvangirai's spokesman, Nelson Chamisa. 'We hope the matter gets the urgent attention it deserves. We should not wait for rivers of blood and the complete breakdown of order.'
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The AU is divided. While countries such as Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania have all criticised the poll to some degree, there is less inclination for a confrontation with Mugabe from South Africa and his allies, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The AU commission chairman, Jean Ping, has urged compromise.
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