The presidential runoff between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be held by July 31, election officials said _ but the opposition insisted Thursday that it should be next week, according to AP. An official government notice issued late Wednesday extended the deadline for holding the runoff to 90 days _ beyond the legally required 21 days _ after the release of election results, The Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, reported Thursday. Tendai Biti, secretary-general for Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, called that decision «irresponsible.» «This country cannot afford 90 days» of more violence and instability and deteriorating economic conditions, he said Thursday. The electoral commission notice said Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa is empowered under election laws to extend the original 21-day period for a runoff to 90 days. The original 21 days would end May 24. The opposition has called for a runoff on May 23.
