The African Union (AU) on Wednesday urged all Zimbabwean parties to hold a free, transparent and non-violent presidential runoff.
   
"In the run-up to the second round of the presidential poll, the AU re-emphasizes the need for Zimbabwe to implement the conditions set out in the Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa," said a statement received by AFP in Addis Ababa, where the AU is headquartered.
   
The pan-African body urged "all the Zimbabwe political actors to conduct their activities in a free, transparent, tolerant, and non-violent manner to enable eligible Zimbabweans exercise their democratic rights."
   
"It is essential also that peace and security be maintained, and that the will of the people be respected by all stakeholders once the results are announced," the statement went on.
   
Results announced by Zimbabwe's electoral commission almost five weeks after the March 29 general polls indicate that opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai led President Robert Mugabe in the first round.
   
Yet his margin was not sufficient to avoid a run-off. Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) insist they won the the presidential ballot outright in the first round.
   
The country's electoral commission, which the MDC has consistently accused of being biased, is yet to announce the date for a second round.
   
Mugabe himself has made no comment about his intentions regarding the run-off.
   
Although his party has said he intends to run again, many commentators believe he will not risk electoral humiliation after running the country ever since independence in 1980.
   
The pan-African organisation's newly-appointed commission chief, Jean Ping, travelled to Harare earlier this week and met Mugabe.
   
During the same tour, he also held talks with Mbeki and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa.
   
"The AU will continue to play an active role in assessing all further developments in preparing for the effective observation of this election with a view to providing an independent judgment on its outcome," the statement said.