US secretary of state warns Zimbabwe president against declaring election victory

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Zimbabwe's president on Thursday against declaring victory in what she said will be an illegitimate run-off election this week.

With the opposition boycotting Friday's vote due to ruling party violence and intimidation, Rice said no outcome would be acceptable and that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe must allow a legitimate government to take power.

"Clearly, no run-off election that doesn't have the participation of opposition ... can be considered legitimate, no outcome can be considered legitimate," she said in Kyoto, where she is attending a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Eight …