...........Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC president, was apparently undismayed by his party's expected inability to block the two-thirds majority.
"It's become a Zimbabwe ritual. This time we won't go to court as it would be a waste of time.
"The courts sat on the last parliamentary challenges for five years and on the presidential election since 2002. So there's no point.
"I haven't seen many of the South African observers but it is clear the South African government wants the Zanu-PF regime to continue and there is nothing we can do about that."
South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, is Mr Mugabe's key supporter and trading partner.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Mr Straw said: "What is clear is that the elections were seriously flawed and that Mugabe has yet again denied ordinary Zimbabweans a free and fair opportunity to vote.
"Credible observers have noted that although there was less violence than during the 2000 and 2002 elections, harassment and intimidation by the ruling party and the government continued."
More than 250 women protesters arrested at a "peace" vigil in a public garden in the city centre on Thursday were released in Harare yesterday, some with serious injuries..........[story LINKED at source]
Ballot stuffing.. Mugabe's fat women holding his picture brigade.. the gang rape squads...it's so depressing.
Besides, this one is Tony Blair's mess to clean up.