Zimbabwe opposition party takes poll battle to court

Harare: Armed policemen blocked Zimbabwe's opposition lawyers from going to court on Saturday to apply for an order forcing the immediate release of presidential poll results.

Three police officers blocked Movement for Democratic Change lawyers Alec Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni from entering the High Court building, witnesses said.

Earlier, lawyers representing Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said they will ask the High Court to order the electoral commission to release the results within four hours of a court order.

"We're fighting the anxiety, disappointment, speculation and rumours as a result of this delay," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa had said.

The MDC claims that Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe, whom they say is trying to rig the elections by delaying the releasing of the results.