Uncertainty increased in Zimbabwe on Wednesday over a disputed election as pressure intensified for results to be announced from a presidential vote more than three weeks ago.
Former colonial power Britain called for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe while analysts dismissed as unlikely a proposal that President Robert Mugabe should lead a unity government until new polls.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would propose an arms embargo, joining calls by South Africa's Anglican church leader and Amnesty International. Brown repeated British accusations that Mugabe was trying to rig the elections and said this was "completely unacceptable".
Pro-government commentator Obediah Mukura Mazombwe introduced new uncertainty by suggesting Mugabe should lead a transitional government to end the deadlock while new elections were organised.
He said the solution should be mediated by Zimbabwe's neighbours. But analysts said Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party were pressing ahead with plans for a runoff vote against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
If adopted, Mazombwe's idea would delay even longer any outcome from an electoral process that Zimbabweans hoped would end their misery under an economic collapse that has saddled them with the world's highest inflation rate - 165,000 percent.
No results have been announced from a March 29 presidential vote which the opposition says it won, while the outcome of a parliamentary poll is also in doubt because of partial recounts. Officials said the first of 23 recounts had confirmed victory in one constituency for the ruling ZANU-PF party, which lost control of parliament for the first time in the election.
RECOUNTS
The recounts could overturn the MDC parliamentary victory.
Analysts said Mazombwe holds no position in the ruling ZANU-PF party and his comments may not have official backing.
"There is no likelihood of that. A government of national unity is highly unlikely if you consider ZANU-PF's hardening attitude and rhetoric," said Lovemore Madhuku, a Mugabe critic and chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly pressure group.
