Thursday, April 24, 2008

US says opposition won Zimbabwe presidential vote

PRETORIA, South Africa - The top U.S. envoy to Africa said Thursday that Zimbabwe's opposition leader won the nation's disputed presidential election and longtime President Robert Mugabe should step down.

The opposition claims that Morgan Tsvangirai beat Mugabe outright in the March 29 vote. Independent Zimbabwean observers also say Tsvangirai won, though not by enough to avoid a run-off.

"We think in this situation we have a clear victor," said Jendayi Frazer, assistant U.S. secretary of state for African affairs, citing the independent figures. "Morgan Tsvangirai won, and perhaps outright, at which point you don't need a government of national unity. You have to accept the result."..........

No comments: