MDC still undecided on run-off

Morgan Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe yesterday

Zimbabwe's main opposition party is still undecided on whether its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, should take part in a run-off election against President Robert Mugabe. The MDC has rejected the outcome of the country's presidential election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday.

The party is now calling on President Robert Mugabe to hand over power instead of initiating a run-off. This as Mugabe conceded defeat and offered himself for the run-off.

The MDC has consistently dismissed talk of a presidential run-off, saying the results were doctored and that Tsvangirai deserved the presidency with 50.3% of the votes.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has the power to extend the period in between the two ballots, and political observers say a 40-day wait was likely.

The opposition, Western governments and human rights groups have accused Mugabe of unleashing militias to scare Zimbabweans into backing him in the run-off. The government denies the allegation and says the MDC has carried out political violence.

The MDC claims 20 of its supporters have been killed and more than 1 000 homes have been burnt or destroyed by Zanu-PF militia since the elections.

Mugabe's critics say they doubt the next ballot will be fair. – Additional reporting by Reuters