Zimbabwe Court rules against MDC

Zimbabwe's High Court has rejected an opposition request that it order the release of results from last month's presidential election. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is demanding that Zimbabwe's electoral commission put out the results from the election, held 16 days ago, March 29. But Judge Tendai Uchena, Monday, turned down the MDC's petition. The MDC says its leader and candidate Morgan Tsvangirai defeated President Robert Mugabe. It has called a general strike to begin Tuesday if the results are not announced. Meanwhile, the electoral commission says it will press ahead with a recount of presidential and parliamentary results in 23 voting districts. The state-run Herald newspaper today quotes the commission's chief, Utoile Silaigwana, as saying the recount is within the commission's mandate regardless of any court procedures. The recount and the delay in the presidential results have sparked accusations that Mr. Mugabe is seeking to illegally hold onto power ...