Mugabe apparently faces major defeat in Zimbabwe

[Nutmegger]

HARARE, ZIMBABWE -- The main opposition party and independent observers said today that President Robert Mugabe was suffering a resounding defeat as election results were tallied, but no official returns were released and capital was rife with speculation that they were being rigged.

cTension was high in the capital, Harare, with police deployed on most corners as the delay in announcing results from Saturday's balloting wore on. Usually, the first official results are released within hours of the polls' closing.

There were unconfirmed reports that key ministers and Mugabe loyalists lost their seats in parliament.

In a briefing to diplomats, independent election observers said that with 66% of the vote counted, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, had 55% of the vote. Mugabe, 84, had 36% and ruling party defector Simba Makoni had 9%, it said.

Full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-zimbabwe31mar31,1,3636982.story

[davidinalameda]

1. Mugabe won't go gently

expect a blood bath

[knitter4democracy]

3. I think you're right.

We used to go to church with some Zimbabwean refugees. They hate that guy for what he's done to their country.

[tabatha]

2. ..hoorah...

at last.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=335846&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/

The opposition claimed victory on Sunday in Zimbabwe's general election as concerns mounted over a delay to the results of a contest that could see veteran President Robert Mugabe turfed out of office.

Meanwhile, the election was a peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people, a team of observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in a report.

[sharesunited]

4. If such a man peaceably surrenders power

you know that the end times are near.

[malaise]

5. I hate Mugabe but M$M also told me that

Bush won in 2000.

[Trajan]

6. Mugabe never loses ....

Watch out ....

[applegrove]

7. Great news indeed. I hope the transition goes peacefully. One can always hope.