The opposition has claimed victory in Zimbabwe's general election as concerns mount over the delay in results.
Riot police are patrolling the streets of Zimbabwe's capital and residents have been told to stay indoors as a long delay in issuing election results fuelled suspicions that President Robert Mugabe's government was trying to rig the result.
Despite warnings from the Mugabe camp that pre-emptive declarations were tantamount to a coup, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it had secured nearly all parliamentary seats in the two main cities.
However more than 26 hours after polls had closed, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had yet to release a single result from any of the 9,000 stations where votes were cast on Saturday for the president, lawmakers and councillors.
While the election was given a clean bill of health from a regional observer mission, the US reiterated its reservations and said Mr Mugabe was a disgrace to the whole of Africa.
‘The delay in announcing these results is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on,’ said Noel Kututwa, the head of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network which was an official observer on election day.
‘The announcement of results in a timely, transparent and accountable manner helps reduce tensions following any election.’
The MDC said it was not going to wait for an announcement from the ZEC, whose leadership had been appointed by Mr Mugabe.
‘This far, short of a miracle, we have won this election beyond any reasonable doubt. We have won this election,’ MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti said.
Mr Biti said the party's assessment was based on unofficial returns posted at polling stations where counting had been completed.
Asked why he was not waiting for the commission to announce results, he said ‘We don't trust the ZEC, which is not independent.’
‘We made a mistake in 2002 by not claiming our victory. We made a mistake in 2005 by not claiming our victory.
‘We will not accept the results of any stolen election as a party.’
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has always insisted he was the rightful winner of the last presidential election in 2002, while the party also says it was robbed of victory in 2005's parliamentary elections.
Mr Biti said its own research showed the party had virtually wiped out the ruling ZANU-PF in the capital Harare and the southern city of Bulawayo and Tsvangirai had a clear lead in the presidential contest.
‘In Bulawayo we have won all the 12 house of assembly seats and... in Harare we have won 28 out of 29.’
Mr Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba meanwhile fired a warning to Mr Tsvangirai, who has twice been charged with treason, against an early victory claim.
‘He announces results, declares himself and the MDC winner and then what? Declare himself president of Zimbabwe? It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled,’ Mr Charamba told the state-run Sunday Mail.
The electoral commission also criticised the opposition for jumping the gun but its chairman had "no idea" when results would be announced.
After determining the 2002 election was rigged, no representatives from European Union countries nor the US have been allowed to oversee the ballot.
Once-prosperous Zimbabwe is suffering from the world's highest inflation rate of more than 100,000%, chronic shortages of food and fuel and a rampant HIV/AIDS epidemic that has contributed to a steep decline in life expectancy.
If no candidate wins more than 51% of the vote, the election will go into a second round.
Go inside Zimbabwe with RTÉ's Richard Downes in this special documentary. Click here to watch it now or watch it live on RTÉ One and RTÉ.ie/live on Sunday night at 11.40pm.
