HARARE, June 27: Polls closed in Zimbabwe’s run-off election on Friday with President Robert Mugabe certain of victory as the sole candidate in a contest that the opposition urged world leaders to reject.

Counting began immediately after polling stations closed their doors at the stroke of 7pm (1700 GMT) at the end of a 12-hour process denounced as a sham by the United States and the European Union.

Morgan Tsvangirai won the first round 13 weeks ago with 47.9 per cent of votes to Mugabe’s 43.2 per cent but decided to boycott the second round after a spate of deadly attacks against his supporters.

And amid widespread reports that the electorate was being coerced into voting for Mugabe, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Tsvangirai advised followers not to risk their lives with futile gestures of defiance.

“If possible, we ask you not to vote today. But if you must vote for Mr Mugabe because of threats to your life, then do so,” he said.

“If forced to cast your ballot for Mr Mugabe to avoid personal harm, then again I say do so.” Despite state media predictions of a “massive” turnout, numbers voting in Harare were well down on the first round although reports from rural areas suggested polling stations were busier there.

A spokesman for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the first results from the 210 constituencies were not expected to be announced until Saturday.

Mugabe and his family voted in the Harare suburb of Highfields, the veteran incumbent beaming to reporters after casting his ballot.

“I feel very fit and very optimistic,” he said.—afp