Robert Mugabe Re-elected as Zimbabwe President

Robert Mugabe's re-election as President of Zimbabwe has been confirmed by the country's electoral commission.

The commission has announced that Mugabe, 89, won 61% of the vote, while challenger Morgan Tsvangirai took 34%.

Its statement continued by saying that "Mugabe, Robert Gabriel, of Zanu-PF party is therefore duly elected president of the Republic of Zimbabwe with effect of today."

However the election, which gives Mugabe a seventh term in office, remains blighted by widespread claims of fraud.

Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's prime minister, earlier promised to take legal action against the alleged fraud perpetrated by Mugabe's officials.

Although Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change has been governing in coalition with Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, Tsvangirai said the alliance will now be severed.

The European Union has also expressed concern about "alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation" during the election.