In what analysts said was unprecedented action towards Mugabe by his long-passive neighbours, including traditional allies, maritime states around landlocked Zimbabwe all refused to allow a Chinese ship carrying arms to the country to unload.

South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma made his toughest comments yet on the three-week delay in announcing the results of Zimbabwe's March 29 presidential election. In an interview with Reuters in Berlin he said:

"It's not acceptable. It's not helping the Zimbabwean people who have gone out to ... elect the kind of party and presidential candidate they want, exercising their constitutional right."

Zuma, who has distanced himself from the "quiet diplomacy" of South African President Thabo Mbeki over Zimbabwe, added: "I imagine that the leaders in Africa should really move in to unlock this logjam.

"Concretely this means African countries should identify some people to go in there, probably talk to both parties, call them and ask them what the problem is, as well as the electoral commission".

Zuma toppled Mbeki as ANC leader last December and has gradually boosted power at the expense of the president.

The comments helped lift the rand currency, as traders welcomed Zuma's readiness to take a lead on Zimbabwe after concern over the impact of the crisis on Africa's biggest economy.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called on African leaders to acknowledge that he won the election and said Mugabe would be allowed an honourable exit.

He said Africa's reputation would suffer "serious disrepute" if it allowed Mugabe to stay in power despite losing the vote.

China said earlier that it may have to bring its vessel

home after it was unable to unload in southern African ports.

WRECKED ECONOMY

Zambia, which has been one of the more critical countries in the region over a crisis that has wrecked Zimbabwe's economy, urged neighbouring states to bar the An Yue from entering their waters, saying the weapons could deepen the election crisis.

Zambia is chair of the regional group SADC (Southern African Development Community).

The Chinese ship was unable to unload in its original destination of Durban on the Indian Ocean coast after trade unions -- which are allies of Zuma -- refused to handle the cargo, saying the weapons could be used against the opposition.

After it left South Africa, both Mozambique and Angola said it was not welcome.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says Mugabe, 84, should stand down and make way for their leader.

The MDC deprived Mugabe's ZANU-PF party of its majority in parliament in a parallel vote on March 29 but there has also been a delay to a partial recount of votes from that poll.

The recount could overturn the MDC victory but the opposition and Western governments say it is merely another ploy by Mugabe to steal back the election.

"We have been affected by the situation in Zimbabwe," Zuma said. "That's part of the reason we're engaged. It's not just a out of political thinking, but (because) there's a concrete, practical impact ... on the South African situation."

Tsvangirai told a news conference in Ghana: "Robert Mugabe is a liberation hero on our continent and he must be convinced to make a graceful exit. ... We believe the time has come for him to have an honourable exit."

Mbeki has been criticised at home and abroad for playing down the gravity of Zimbabwe's electoral deadlock despite widespread accusations that Mugabe has launched a militia offensive against opposition supporters.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Monday denied MDC reports that 10 opposition activists had been killed in a government crackdown since the elections.

A Harare magistrate on Tuesday denied bail to 28 people accused of arson attacks during an abortive opposition protest strike last week.

Zuma, who is frontrunner to succeed Mbeki as president next year, was sharply critical of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

"It is actually destroying its own credibility as an institution that is supposed to be neutral," he said.