Zimbabwe recounts near completion

Recounts of disputed parliamentary seats have confirmed the opposition party’s majority in parliament, Zimbabwe state media reports…

Recounts of disputed parliamentary seats have confirmed the opposition party’s majority in parliament, Zimbabwe state media reports today.

Reports said the counts will be complete tomorrow.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will then invite President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to a final "verification and collation exercise" on the presidential vote.

Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)  is widely believed to have won a majority in elections one month ago. Since then, there has been an upsurge in arrests and violence against  opposition supporters.

The electoral commission said the recount of 18 of 23 seats confirmed the  initial results. Even if Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party wins the last five, it will not be enough.

AP