Tsvangirai wins 47% in Zimbabwe election, say sources

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's presidential election, winning 47 per cent of the vote against the president's 43 per cent, senior government sources said today.

One source told Reuters a run-off would be needed because Tsvangirai did not win enough votes for an outright victory.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has said he won the 29 March vote outright and accuses Mugabe - in power for 28 years - of delaying results to rig victory.

The standoff over the election has raised fears of widespread bloodshed.

Zimbabweans had hoped the election would ease economic turmoil. Instead, severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages are worsening and there are no signs an inflation rate of 165,000 per cent - the world's highest - will decrease.

Earlier, Mugabe's government dismissed the United Nations' first session on Zimbabwe's election crisis as "sinister, racist and colonial" and said it would have no impact on the country.

At the UN Security Council meeting yesterday, Western powers pressed for a UN mission or envoy to visit Zimbabwe, where the results of a disputed presidential election four weeks ago have still not been released.

"For us, this (UN session) is a sign of desperation by the British and their MDC puppets. It is sinister, racist and colonial for Britain to try to rope in everyone to support its neo-colonial agenda here ... but it will fail," Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told Reuters.

European countries, Latin American UN members and the United States supported sending an envoy, diplomats said, but South Africa, which currently holds the council presidency, said such a move was not a matter for the council.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has come under attack at home and abroad for his softly softly approach to Zimbabwe.

Former colonial ruler Britain has been at the forefront of international pressure on Mugabe. It is seeking an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, an investigation into post-election violence, and has called for the election results to be issued immediately.