The second round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections, in which the first-round winner, Morgan Tsvangirai, will challenge President Robert Mugabe, will be held on June 27.

News agencies reported on Friday that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the election date in an extraordinary government gazette.

The gazette said: "It is hereby notified that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission with the approval of the Minister of Justice made the following notice: a poll shall be taken on Friday, June 27, 2008, for the purpose of electing a person to the Office of President."

The chairman of the commission, Justice George Chiweshe, told the state-run Herald newspaper on Thursday that it was not practicable to hold the run-off vote by May 23, the period originally prescribed by law.

"The run-off is a full election and just as big as any general election, so the resources that we need are obviously substantial," he said.

"Some of the resources were depleted during the first election, so we need more time to prepare for the run-off."

From Belfast, Reuters reported Tsvangirai as saying he was heading home on Friday to contest the election.