Zimbabwe's President Mr Robert Mugabe swept back to office for six more years today, but his opponent has rejected the outcome of a vote which local and Western observers said was severely flawed.
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Mr Robert Mugabe
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Defeated opponent Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said the people had been "cheated" in the "massively rigged" election.
Mr Mugabe, who has ruled since independence in 1980, won 56.2 per cent of the vote against 41.9 per cent for Mr Tsvangirai, according to official results. The turnout was an estimated 66 per cent.
African nations generally backed the announced re-election of the 78-year-old Mr Mugabe.
But Western nations have accused Mr Mugabe of using violence to intimidate his opponents, and he is already under personal sanctions from the European Union and the United States.
"Mr Mugabe can claim victory, but not democratic legitimacy," US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said in a statement.
Mr Tsvangirai (50) told reporters in Harare the election had been "massively rigged" and called a national consultation of the Zimbabwean people.
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Mr Morgan Tsvangirai
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He cited "state-sponsored terrorism" against his supporters, the "insidious disenfranchisement" of voters in the MDC's urban strongholds and intimidation in rural areas that offered "unfettered opportunities" to rig the outcome.
UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan appealed for calm and said the world body was undecided over what to do next.
"Some observers have said it was not free and fair, others have indicated that it was free and fair; I need to get a much more definitive assessment," he said.
British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw said the campaign had been instigated "to achieve one goal, power at all costs. It is no surprise that this outcome has now been achieved."
South African observers gave a qualified endorsement of the polls. Head observer Mr Sam Motsuenyane said they could be considered "legitimate," but said: "We cannot openly describe it as free and fair."
Meanwhile two teams from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) issued contradictory statements.
The independent SADC Parliamentary Forum’s said the vote did not conform to its norms and standards. But the team from the SADC Council of Ministers considered the vote a "true reflection" of the people's will.
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) also endorsed the poll as "transparent, credible, free and fair."
AFP