Opposition cries foul in Zimbabwe election

ON the surface, it looked good. Zimbabweans lined up peacefully and cast votes in a general election that President Robert Mugabe says will vindicate his near 25-year rule.

But opposition leaders and independent rights groups said the poll was slanted before it started.

“We are not happy with the way the electoral playing field has been organised, and we all agree, on all benchmarks, this is not going to be a free and fair election,” opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said as he voted at a primary school in a Harare suburb.