Zimbabwe’s opposition leader and a government minister have denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday’s election but declined to declare himself the winner.

He said his party would reveal their tally of results on Wednesday.

Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF’s Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal.

Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 82 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 78 for Zanu-PF, with 55 still to come.

‘Speculation’

As calls grew around the world for the final official results, the White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had “voted for change”.

In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: “Let’s not be influenced by speculation. There is no discussion, and therefore this is just a speculative story.

“There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result. That’s the legal position.”

He urged the ZEC “to proceed with haste, and I think two-and-a-half days is not haste at all”.

Zanu-PF’s deputy information minister also sought to pour cold water on claims of a deal with the opposition.

“There are no discussions, no negotiations, and President Mugabe will not be going on state television to announce anything because there’s nothing to announce.”

Call for results

MDC opposition sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of a deal had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to step down.

They said representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition had held meetings chaired by South Africa, but that government had also denied any involvement.

The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed.

Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race, but it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote.

Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election.

Meanwhile, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said in a statement: “It’s clear the people of Zimbabwe have voted for change.

“It’s time for the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to confirm the results we have all seen from the local polling stations and respected NGOs.”

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London: “Results should be published immediately and the elections must be seen to be fair.”

The European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to step down.

“If Mr Mugabe continues, there will be a coup d’etat,” said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency.

Results were posted for the first time in this election on the doors of Zimbabwe’s polling stations, allowing groups such as the MDC and observers to compile independent results.

Mr Mugabe came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years.

Zimbabweans are suffering the world’s highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and life expectancy that has plunged to 35 years.bbc

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