Western nations denounced the election process as unfair, but to the Organization of African Unity it was "transparent, credible, free and fair." Apparently, assaulting the opposition is well within bounds for the OAU. [End Excerpt]
Tsvangirai, alleges that the March 9-11 presidential election was rigged by Mugabe, said the government had to restore its legitimacy. He said: "I'm suggesting that the best way is for the two parties to negotiate. The whole negotiation process should lead to a restoration of legitimacy in a government that is not legitimate.
"As far as we are convinced, a re-election is the only option out of that stalemate. In fact we are being magnanimous, there is no reason why we should negotiate with people who have stolen an election, but this is the only way we can see the country moving forward.
"The country is in dire need of food and all these other measures so let's see how it transpires."
He said presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who met Mugabe for talks Monday, had offered to lead the negotiations without conditions. [End]