Zimbabwe sets cut-off date for new election

Zimbabwe today said the presidential run-off election between president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be held by July 31.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported that an official government notice had been issued announcing a 90-day extension to the deadline to hold the run-off.

The notice says justice minister Patrick Chinamasa is empowered under election laws to extend the original 21-day period for a runoff to 90 days.

Mr Tsvangirai claims he won the presidential race outright. But official results released weeks after the March 29 poll show he did not win enough votes to avoid a second round against Mugabe.