Observers say Zimbabwe poll "credible"

"African observers have endorsed Zimbabwe's disputed parliamentary election,countering critics from outside the continent who ar accusing President Robert Mugabe of rigging the vote.

The African Union (AU), the 13-member regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) andgovernment delegations from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi on Sunday joined economic powerhouse SouthAfrica in saying Zimbabwe's poll was free, credible and reflected the will of the people.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF party scored a massive win in Thursday's election, taking the two-thirds majority it needsto push through constitutional changes at will.

The opposition rejected the result and joined Western governments in denouncing the poll as a fraud, sayingMugabe had stolen his third election in five years.

The European Union called the election 'phoney' and the United States attacked its credibility, saying theprocess was unfairly tilted in favour of the government.

Africa's observers appeared satisfied, however."

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