MDC legal action for poll results

Last Modified: 04 Apr 2008
By: James Blake

Zimbabwe's the Movement for Democratic Change files a High Court action calling for publication of the presidential election results.

They are convinced Mr Mugabe is playing for time and they have a majority.

The move comes as Robert Mugabe chairs a meeting this lunchtime of the ruling Zanu-PF Politburo to decide on his next step.

Yesterday the president emerged to blame the opposition of cheating.

These comments proved to be the start of a clamp-down by security services.

They raided the hotel where opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was staying.

At another hotel two people have been arrested and jailed - accused of practising journalism illegally.

One is a correspondent with the New York Times. The other is a British man - who, according to the Foreign Office has been allowed a visit from the British consul.

And, here, the Foreign Office has confirmed that a British man is being held by the Zimbabwean authorities on suspicion of practising journalism without accreditation.

The president is meeting his inner circle - his polit buru today - after which Zanu-PF is expected to announce a second run-off election, which could take place in up to 90 days.

It gives Robert Mugabe enough time to re-organise.

Peace may be optimistic. Zanu-PF has justified the police raids on the opposition by saying the MDC broke the law by declaring a premature victory in the elections.