Ashlee Simpson `marries rocker`

Ashlee Simpson `marries rocker`

19.05.2008
Share this article:

05/19/2008 Obama looks to seal deal over Hillary
HEADING into the Democrats` latest round of primary voting, Barack Obama is bidding to seal the deal against Hillary Clinton and unite the party for its larger battle to come against John McCain
05/18/2008 Edward Kennedy rushed to hospital
LEADING Democrat senator Edward Kennedy has been taken to hospital after suffering from seizures in Boston
05/17/2008 Drug lord`s son killed
A son of Mexico`s most wanted drug kingpin, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, has been gunned down and killed by rival cartel hitmen, according to local media reports
05/17/2008 Environmental fears after volcano
VOLCANIC ash raining down from the Chilean volcano Chaiten may cause long-term environmental damage and harm the health of people and animals in Patagonia, scientists said

Related Links

Today`s Top Picks

Zimbabwe`s Mugabe `moves to steal election`

Swim star `was bragging`

WITNESSES say swimming star Nick D`Arcy was big-noting himself before he allegedly king-hit Simon Cowley.

Font size: +-

Send this article:PrintEmail

Search for more stories on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Click here

Also in World

Video

Zimbabwe`s Mugabe `moves to steal election`Watch this Video NOW!
Underbelly`s Mick Gatto

Meet the actor who plays Mick Gatto in the hit television show and learn how he researched the role.

Latest videos

More Video

Advertisement

Love & Relationships - Find a date near you on Match.com - # 1 Online Dating site Worldwide.
 
What`s On in Wellington. Visit WellingtonNZ.com
 
Overflowing with benefits Experience life the Platinum Way With American Express Platinum.
 
Virgin Mobile Cheap calls & text across Australia.
 
TIC TAC Taste of Music WIN the ultimate music experience 12 double passes to 12 concerts.
 
Get a higher return Earn a high 7.88% p.a.^ on a 3 month Term Deposit with HSBCPremier.
 
Want to be instantly better off? Find the best Health Insurance online now.
 
Tools

  • Mugabe trickling out results of national elections
  • Fears he may wants to steal poll results
  • Follows his failure to successfully rig polls

ROBERT Mugabe was last night playing with fire, trickling out the results of national elections amid fears that having failed to successfully rig the polls, the Zimbabwean President now wants to steal them. 

The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission belatedly began announcing results last night, giving 12 seats each to the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change and Mr Mugabe`s ZANU-PF in the 210-member National Assembly.

The piecemeal announcement, 36 hours after the polls closed, defied reports from African election observers who said some results were known as early as 11pm on Saturday (8am Sunday AEDT), four hours after the polls closed.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said he had grave concerns about the fairness of the election and whether the announced result would reflect the real vote, The Australian reported.

"We remain very gravely concerned that Mr Mugabe will seek to steal this election, irrespective of the actual votes cast," Mr Smith said.

In previous elections, partial results have been announced within hours of voting ending, but observers reported that the ZEC had only a skeleton staff onSunday.

However, in an encouraging boost to hopes for a clean result, Mr Mugabe`s outgoing Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa was officially beaten in the rural eastern constituency of Makoni Central. Election monitors said earlier that six cabinet ministers had lost their seats.

They included Vice-President Joyce Mujuru; Didymus Mutasa, Minister of State for Security and Land; and Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said last night that Mr Mugabe would be given time to accept defeat.

"Even if they are trying to rig (the polls), they won`t succeed. Our victory is overwhelming," he said.

The MDC on Sunday claimed victory in the presidential, parliamentary and council elections on the basis of reports from its own monitors, who phoned in results posted on the doors of all the nation`s 9000 polling booths, before they were sent to the electoral commission. 

The Opposition had MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai with 67 per cent of the presidential vote from 35 per cent of the booths. The MDC claimed 28 of 29 seats in the capital Harare and all 12 in the southern city of Bulawayo, as well as making big inroads into Mr Mugabe`s rural heartland.

Fearful of a repeat of the deadly violence that followed Kenya`s disputed elections in Decemeber, security forces were on the streets of Harare and other cities.

"Clearly the delay is fuelling speculation that something might be going on," Noel Kututwa, chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network, said.

Mr Mugabe, 84, is facing the toughest challenge to his 28-year rule, facing not only 55-year-old Mr Tsvangirai, who narrowly lost disputed 2002 elections, but former ZANU-PF finance minister Simba Makoni, 58.

Mr Smith said there had been several reports of the production of multiple ballot papers and of Mr Mugabe cronies using food aid for political purposes.

While there had been concerns about electoral irregularities in the past, the current concerns were "much greater".

"So our starting point is not `there was a full and free election`," Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said it was incumbent on the international community to place pressure on Mugabe and his regime to embrace democracy.

Sources within ZANU-PF said Mr Mugabe was consulting his security chiefs amid fears of how they might react to news of his defeat. The chiefs all have said they would serve only  Mr Mugabe.




NEWS.com.au is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Get desktop alerts for major breaking news events now!

Related Links

Today`s Top Picks

Swim star `was bragging`

WITNESSES say swimming star Nick D`Arcy was big-noting himself before he allegedly king-hit Simon Cowley.

Font size: +-

Send this article:PrintEmail

Search for more stories on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Click here

Also in World

Video

Underbelly`s Mick GattoWatch this Video NOW!
Underbelly`s Mick Gatto

Meet the actor who plays Mick Gatto in the hit television show and learn how he researched the role.

Latest videos

More Video

Advertisement

Love & Relationships - Find a date near you on Match.com - # 1 Online Dating site Worldwide.
 
What`s On in Wellington. Visit WellingtonNZ.com
 
Overflowing with benefits Experience life the Platinum Way With American Express Platinum.
 
Virgin Mobile Cheap calls & text across Australia.
 
TIC TAC Taste of Music WIN the ultimate music experience 12 double passes to 12 concerts.
 
Get a higher return Earn a high 7.88% p.a.^ on a 3 month Term Deposit with HSBCPremier.
 
Want to be instantly better off? Find the best Health Insurance online now.
 
Tools
Zimbabwe`s Mugabe `moves to steal election`   04/01/2008
11. 2008
Mo Tu Wd Th Fr Sa Su
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930


Google


Categories: News Headlines Business News Entertaiment News Hi-tech & Science Sport
Global: Americas Europe Africa Australia Asia Middle East