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Harare: South Africa's government, in a major change of stance, called yesterday for the rapid release of results from Zimbabwe's presidential election, saying it was concerned by a delay that has increased fears of violence.
"The situation is dire," said government spokesman Themba Maseko in Cape Town. "When elections are held and results are not released two weeks after, it is obviously of great concern."
President Thabo Mbeki has previously said the electoral process must take its course and there was no crisis following the March 29 elections.
His stance was seen as backing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe over the delay. Although Mugabe's ZANU-PF party lost control of parliament for the first time in the vote, no results have been released from a presidential poll.
"As soon as possible"
"The Zimbabweans need to be informed about those reasons for holding the results. But the most important thing is that the results need to be verified and released as soon as possible," Maseko said.
The government of regional power South Africa had previously hesitated to join international expressions of concern about the delay in issuing the result of the vote, in which the opposition says Mugabe was defeated.
But ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, who toppled Mbeki from the head of the African National Congress last December, has made several statements calling for release of the results.
Maseko used similar language to Zuma in expressing concern about the results delay.
The Zimbabwean government yesterday accused opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of being engaged in treason by plotting with former colonial power Britain to bring about regime change.
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