MDC rejects runoff for now

HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 3 (UPI) -- The Zimbabwean opposition lobbied African leaders Saturday, demanding a better count of votes in the presidential race.

The Movement for Democratic Change says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won more than 50 percent of the vote, enough for outright victory. The Election Commission released its results Friday, five weeks after the election, claiming Tsvangirai got 47.9 percent and President Robert Mugabe 43.2 percent, putting the two men into a runoff.

A spokesman said Tsvangirai flew to Zambia to discuss the election with President Levy Mwanawasa, head of the Southern African Development Community, The New York Times reported. The regional group, after an emergency meeting, called for a count of the votes that could be verified by all parties.

Thokozani Khupe, vice president of the MDC, said a meeting Saturday rejected participation in a runoff, CNN reported. But he said that decision is not final.

As the vote count now stands, Mugabe would automatically win if Tsvangirai refuses to stand in the runoff.