Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has denied his party is negotiating the departure of President Robert Mugabe from power. He made the remark as unofficial results showed him leading Mr. Mugabe in Saturday's presidential election. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.

Morgan Tsvangirai addresses press conference in Harare, 02 Apr 2008

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said late Tuesday his party would wait for the final results of Saturday's elections before considering talks with the Mugabe government.

"In moments such as this, there is a temptation to short-cut processes and to resort to opportunistic pathways. [But] We will exercise restraint," he said.

He called on the electoral commission to issue official results quickly, saying his party would issue its figures Wednesday.

Official presidential results have yet to be released. But unofficial tallies of figures from polling stations showed Tsvangirai won with 49 percent to Mr. Mugabe's 41 percent, leading to rumors of talks about Mr. Mugabe stepping down.