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G8 ministers call for release of results of Zimbabwean poll

Foreign ministers from the G8 major economies called yesterday for the swift release of the results of Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential polls, condemning recent violence there.

The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US urged “a speedy, credible and genuinely democratic resolution to this situation in accordance with the wishes of the Zimbabwean people.”

In a joint statement issued by Japan, the current chairman of the G8, the ministers called for the result of the presidential election “to be released expeditiously and in accordance with the due process of law.”

“Violence and intimidation must have no place in this process,” the statement said.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he beat 84-year-old Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe outright in Zimbabwe’s March 29 presidential poll, but the ruling party says neither won a clear victory and insists a run-off will be needed.

The G8 ministers expressed “deep concern” that the official results have not yet been released and said any verification of the vote should be done in the presence of all the candidates or their representatives.

Mugabe’s security forces have clamped down hard on recent unrest in Zimbabwe, arresting dozens of opposition supporters. Local doctors have reported treating more than 150 victims of post-election political beatings.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for international observers to monitor any second round of the contested polls.
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