UN condemned, Mugabe certain of victory as Zimbabwe counts votes

HARARE (AFP) — Zimbabwe's opposition condemned on Saturday the UN's failure to declare the country's election as illegitimate, accusing South African President Thabo Mbeki of shielding a "rogue regime" from criticism.

"What we would expect from the international community is to declare this so-called election illegitimate," the Movement for Democratic Change's chief spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP.

"The tiptoeing being shown by international bodies indirectly fertilises repression in Zimbabwe", he added.

The announcement comes as counting got under way in Zimbabwe after a run-off election, with President Robert Mugabe assured of victory as the sole candidate following a boycott by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The first results from the 210 constituencies were expected to be announced from around lunchtime, according to the Zimbabwe electoral commission, but the final outcome was unlikely to be confirmed until late in the day or on Sunday.

Tsvangirai, the ...