ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe lost the weekend's closely contested presidential election and is desperately looking for a "safe exit", say sources close to the election process.
This comes as pressure mounted last night for him to release the results.
Sources said Mugabe lost the election to main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai by 49% -43%.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said Tsvangirai was projected to get the most votes, with 49,4%, trailed by Mugabe with 41,8%.
If no candidate gets more than 50%, a run-off election must be held within three weeks.
Though Mugabe's ruling Zanu (PF) was last night leading with 69 parliamentary seats to the MDC's 67, it was eventually expected to lose control of parliament to the MDC and its allies.
The other MDC faction, led by Arthur Mutambara, has so far won five seats. There is one independent candidate who won a seat. This means Zanu (PF) trails overall in the parliamentary race. Sources said Zanu (PF) and the MDC could end up with 98 seats each, with the other constituencies going to Mutambara's faction and independents.
There are concerns that Mugabe and his party are delaying the release of results to create room for manipulation.
Mugabe said during voting on Saturday he did not want a second round of voting because it was not a "boxing match".
He said he would go if defeated instead of facing a run-off. The US, Canada, Britain and the European Union (EU) yesterday urged Mugabe to allow the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce the winner of the presidential election.
Mugabe, who has not commented on the elections or been seen in public since voting on Saturday, had blocked the ZEC from releasing the results because he lost, sources said.
He was trying to find the best way to deal with the situation, they said.
"That Mugabe lost this election is no longer in doubt," a source said. "The question is, when will he concede defeat? Will he concede defeat and quit, or face a run-off since no candidate won an outright majority?
"The reason results are withheld is to give him enough time to find a safe exit. We are going through a transition from the Mugabe era to a new dispensation. That's what is happening."
Mugabe's options are clear: to concede defeat and leave quietly; get into a run-off which he is expected to lose; or find a "safe exit".
He can also hold talks with the opposition to negotiate a settlement and form a government of national unity.
Yesterday, sources said UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown had phoned southern African leaders, including President Thabo Mbeki, to urge them to encourage Mugabe to concede defeat and quit or face a run-off.
"Brown has spoken to leaders in the region, including Mbeki, to engage Mugabe to concede defeat," a source said. "Mbeki has in turn got in touch with Mugabe over the issue and talks are under way on how to manage the situation. Mbeki could be on his way to Harare soon to talk to Mugabe."
Brown yesterday said results should "come forward soon as the world is watching closely, wanting to be sure that everything is done fairly and ... in the right way".
State department spokesman Tom Casey said the US was "concerned by the slow pace of the official tabulation," urging the electoral commission "to release the results, including the presidential election returns, as quickly as possible."
Foreign ministers of seven European Union countries called on the commission to "swiftly announce all official election results, especially … of the presidential election".
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Are those members of the European Union more African or Zimbabwean than the people of Zimbabwe themselves? Who gave them the moral standing to be urging the swift release of results in an independent country? Are they sure that all votes have been properly counted or are they just so eager to see Mugabe out? When has an African government ever forced the release of elections in a European country? Let us learn to respect the sovereignty of other countries, please!
I appreciate the efforts by the international community for calling Mugabe to release the results. Zimbawe does not live in isolation. The Ziom crises has affetced all these countries, they have many Zimbabweans who are fleeing to their countries and they have a stake on the Zimbabwean elections. Who are you to determine who should talk abt Zimbabwe. Do you know how much we are suffering in foreign countries, have you ever experienced what it feels like to be in Zimbabwe. Do you know how it feels to know that you canot have dreams all because of one man an his allies. I can speak on behalf of Zimbabweans.We would appreciate the intervention by the international community to make sure Mugabe does not steal our vote. I went to Zim and voted, I sacrificed my hard earned money in anticipation of a Change. Only Mugabe's exit will be necessary for me to live a normal life again. If Mugabe wins, it is like a death sentence to Zimbabweans.
sonyroll donot insul;t the suffering Zimbabweans like me by saying tha rubish!
use your brains mate..the EU contrys just want to help you and your destroyed country to come out of all this..you chud be happy to know that european countrys still loock after you other wise you'll b dead by nom..lol
Mr. Otto, dont forget what 300 years of slaving Africans contributed to Europe. And you also never forget what over 100 years of colonialism did to present day Africa. Please for the sake of peace on earth dont open up old woulds! Eu has much to blame as Africa itself over its state of affairs. Please find a book by Michela Wrong on Congo DR, you will understand what I mean. Over Zimbabwe, Mugabe's main problem is overstaying in power! But it is good that he gave the opposition a good run! It wouldnt have been good democracy to just give the country to them on a silver plate. What has happened in Zim is a very good lesson to all Africans. Let us have political Scholars to study it and come up with credible lessons.
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