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G8 urges swift release of results
17/04/2008 07:20 - (SA)
Tokyo - Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight major economies called on Thursday for the swift release of the results of Zimbabwe's disputed presidential polls, condemning recent violence there.
The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States urged "a speedy, credible and genuinely democratic resolution to this situation in accordance with the wishes of the Zimbabwean people".
In a joint statement issued by Japan, the current chairperson of the G8, the ministers called for the result of the presidential election "to be released expeditiously and in accordance with the due process of law".
"Violence and intimidation must have no place in this process," they added.
Ministers express 'deep concern'
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he had beaten 84-year-old President Robert Mugabe outright in Zimbabwe's March 29 presidential poll, but the ruling party said neither won a clear victory and insisted a run-off would be needed.
The G8 ministers expressed "deep concern" that the official results had not yet been released and said any verification of the vote should be done in the presence of all the candidates or their representatives.
Mugabe's security forces had clamped down hard on recent unrest in Zimbabwe, arresting dozens of opposition supporters. Local doctors had reported treating more than 150 victims of post-election political beatings.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for international observers to monitor any second round of the contested polls.
Tsvangirai had previously ruled out his participation in a second ballot, but indicated this week that he would compete if international observers were allowed to monitor it.
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
