Lusaka/Harare - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Sunday called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to quickly release the results of presidential elections held two weeks ago as ZEC bowed to demands from President Robert Mugabe's party for a partial recount.

A wait of more than two weeks for the official results of the March 29 elections has fuelled tensions in Zimbabwe between supporters of Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai

The MDC claims Tsvangirai won the vote, ending Mugabe's 28-year rule. Mugabe's Zanu-PF says neither won outright and that a runoff election is needed.

In a communique issued after marathon emergency talks on the dispute in the Zambian capital Lusaka SADC leaders called on all sides to respect the outcome when announced by ZEC.

If it came to a runoff, "the Zimbabwe government should ensure that the elections are held in a secure environment," and in strict compliance with the rule of law and SADC electoral standards, SADC warned.

SADC would also send an election observer mission, the regional leaders said.

In the meantime ZEC announced on state radio it would undertake a recount of the results from 23 constituencies following allegations by Zanu-PF that the MDC bribed election officials to deflate Mugabe's vote - claims the MDC rejects.

The recount would take place on April 19, the election body said. SADC said it would send observers to monitor the count.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti expressed disappointment at the tepid tone of the SADC communique. The MDC had been calling on SADC to pressure Mugabe into conceding defeat.

"SADC leaders failed to strongly admonish Robert Mugabe for brutalizing his political opponents," Biti said in Lusaka, reiterating the MDC's opposition to a runoff vote.

"Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential pools hands down," he said.

Tsvangirai was called on Saturday to address the summit, which Mugabe boycotted after his party declared there was no need for the meeting because there was "no crisis."

SADC's mediator in Zimbabwe, South African President Thabo Mbeki, also took that line after meeting with Mugabe in Harare before the summit, saying the standoff did not constitute a crisis.

The communique was issued after talks that began Saturday afternoon and continued throughout into Sunday morning.

Sources said the wording of the text was the subject of intense haggling between the Zimbabwean delegation and the MDC. (dpa)