Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's presidential election, winning 47 percent of the vote against the president's 43 percent, senior government sources said on Wednesday.One source, declining to be named like the others, 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 March 29 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. The MDC said on Wednesday 20 of its members had been killed by pro-government militias in post-election violence and that soldiers had taken part in the attacks. "Only over the past two days five MDC activists have been killed," it said. The government has denied waging a violent campaign against the opposition and accuses the MDC of carrying out attacks.
Tsvangirai has said there is no need for a second round because he won outright but has also suggested he could take part if there were international observers led by the U.N.. If Tsvangirai refused to take part in a run-off, Mugabe would be declared the winner, according to election rules