Zimbabwe election: International calls for restraint

A government crackdown in Zimbabwe after Monday's elections has prompted international calls for restraint.

The UN and former colonial power the UK both expressed concern about the.

violence, in which three people were killed after troops opened fire.

Parliamentary results gave victory to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the first vote.

since the removal of former ruler Robert Mugabe.

But the opposition says Zanu-PF rigged the election.

The result of the presidential election has yet to be declared.

The MDC opposition alliance insists its candidate, Nelson Chamisa, beat the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Zimbabwe's politicians to exercise restraint, while UK.

foreign office minister Harriett Baldwin said she was "deeply concerned" by the violence.

Deeply concerned by today's violence in #Harare.

Call on Zimbabwe's political leaders to take responsibility for ensuring calm & restraint at this.

critical moment.

We're monitoring the situation closely.

British nationals in Harare should check @FCOtravel #ZimbabweElections2018

on Twitter, saying the country had an "historic opportunity" for a brighter future.

Human rights group Amnesty International meanwhile called on the government to open a.

probe into the army's actions.

Amnesty's acting secretary general Colm O Cuanachain said in a press release that.

the "militarisation" of the election aftermath was "muzzling freedom of expression, association and assembly".

"People must be guaranteed their right to protest," he said.

The country's electoral commission said that Zanu-PF had won a two-thirds majority.

in parliament - prompting protests in the capital, Harare.

Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate the protests.

The opposition "are testing our resolve", he said, "and I think they are.

making a big mistake.

"

A spokesman for Mr Chamisa condemned the deployment of soldiers and the subsequent.

loss of life.

"Soldiers are trained to kill during war.

Are civilians enemies of the state?" he asked.

"There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw today.

"

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has so far announced victory in 140 seats.

for Zanu-PF, with 58 for the MDC Alliance, ZBC state media reported.

There are 210 seats in the National Assembly's lower house.

More than five million people were registered to vote, and there was a.

turnout of 70%.

The EU mission criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results.

Zec has until Saturday to do so.

It said it had observed several problems, including media bias, voter intimidation and.

mistrust in the electoral commission, adding that there was an "improved political climate, but un-level.

playing field and lack of trust".

This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed.

EU and US election monitors into the country.

The African Union mission has said the elections "took place in a very.

peaceful environment" and "were highly competitive".

It added that it could not confirm opposition parties' complaints of vote-buying, intimidation.

by the state and bias by traditional leaders.

A preliminary report by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) observers said the.

elections were largely peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law.

SOURCE: BBC News.