A Commonwealth observer group harshly condemned Zimbabwe's presidential election today, saying it did not reflect the will of the people and was held in a climate of fear.
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The group accused paramilitary youth groups loyal to President Mr Robert Mugabe of a systematic campaign of intimidation against supporters of defeated opposition challenger Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
The violence and intimidation created a climate of fear and suspicion, former Nigerian leader Mr Abdulsalami Abubakar, chairman of the 61-member Commonwealth observer group, told a news conference.
"All of the foregoing brings us to the conclusion that the conditions in Zimbabwe did not adequately allow for a free expression of will by the electors," he said, reading his preliminary report.
An earlier draft saying there was not a free expression of will was softened in the final version. But the slap in the face for President Mugabe was still resounding, diplomats said.
The contents were in contrast to the view of Commonwealth member South Africa, whose own observers shocked pro-opposition Zimbabweans yesterday by calling the outcome of the March 9th-11th polls legitimate.
President Mugabe (78), in power since 1980, was declared re-elected for a six-year term with 56 per cent of votes cast.
The Commonwealth observers' view is important because the 54-nation body, largely comprising former British colonies, is due to consider suspending Zimbabwe if the elections are deemed not to have been free.
Today’s report was the most critical assessment by an international observer group of the election, which the opposition rejected, saying said it had been rigged.