HARARE, April 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has managed 34 seats in Thursday's parliamentary poll untill Friday afternoon, sightly ahead of its main rival, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which garnered 31 seats.

    According to results released by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Friday afternoon, the seats won by ZANU-PF, come mainly from rural areas, while the MDC showed its strength in urban and peri-urban areas, especially in Bulawayo, the country's second largest city, the MDC won in all the seven constituencies.

    However, ZANU-PF managed to snatch several seats from MDC's strongholds.

    On the same day, the MDC labeled the just ended sixth parliamentary poll unfair. MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai made the remarks while addressing journalists at a press conference.

    He said private assessments by the party revealed that the elections were not run fairly and would result in the opposition party losing most of the constituencies it won in 2000.

    "Zimbabweans should stand firm and defend their vote truly and effectively from the fraudster, ZANU-PF," he said.

    Without shedding more light, Tsvangirai said that Wedza, Chegutu, Goromonzi and Chipinge North constituencies which they won in 2000, had already been scooped by ZANU-PF through "fraud."

    He, however, said since his party believed in taking power under democracy, it had no choice but to take action after the final results were announced.

    Zimbabwe held sixth parliamentary elections Thursday. Though five political parties contested the poll, it is largely seen as atwo-horse race between ZANU-PF and the MDC.

    ZANU-PF has been ruling party since Zimbabwe attained political independence on April 18, 1980 from former colonial ruler Britain. However, in last parliamentary election held in 2000, the party just got a feeble majority with 62 seats. The MDC, a party launched just one year before that election, won 57 seats.

    Zimbabwe's Parliament, also called House of Assembly has 150 members: 120 elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies and 30 appointed members by president, governors and elected chiefs.

    Results for the remaining constituencies will be announced as soon as they come in, ZEC officials said at the election command center. Enditem