US urges Zimbabwe to honor will of people in election

The United States is urging Zimbabwe to "do the right thing" as it counts presidential and parliamentary votes.

zimbabwe88,224 (photo credit: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
zimbabwe88,224
(photo credit: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
State Department spokesman Tom Casey says the U.S. "strongly encourages" the country's electoral commission to honor the will of the Zimbabwean people. He told reporters Monday that the U.S. had concerns before the election on overprinting of ballots and police in polling stations that would make the vote-counting process "problematic." Zimbabwe's opposition claimed a wide lead in balloting. But only a few official results were released. That heightens fears that a ruling government accused of ruining the economy and undermining democracy planned to hold onto power through rigging.