Harare: Zimbabwe's High Court has postponed until Tuesday a decision on whether to force the country's election commission to release the results of the March 29 presidential election.

The court ruled on Monday that it had the jurisdiction to hear the case brought by the Movement for Democratic Change, says opposition lawyer Alec Muchadehama.

Results from the election have still not been published nine days after the polls closed. The opposition has said the results show its candidate Morgan Tsvangirai has defeated longtime ruler Robert Mugabe.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Monday for "proper international monitoring" if there is a runoff of Zimbabwe's presidential election.


Brown told a news conference: "It's very important that there is proper international monitoring," if a second round of elections is held.

He added that the international community supports fair elections.

Zimbabwe did not allow monitors from Western countries that are critical of Mugabe to monitor the first poll.