HARARE, April 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday extended an olive branch to the opposition which lost Thursday's parliamentary election, saying his ruling party and government were willing to engage in dialogue in and outside the legislature.

    Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) romped to a landslide victory in the poll, capturing 78 of the legislature's 120 contested seats.

    The party's closest rival, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had managed 41 seats, a drop from the 57 it held in the previous parliament. The remaining seat was won by an independent candidate.

    The opposition party immediately cried foul alleging fraud, and threatened protests by its supporters.

    But Mugabe, at a press conference, said the ruling party was willing to work with the opposition in the interest of the nation, urging all sides to accept the verdict of the people.

    "We will be fully prepared as ZANU-PF to interact with MDC in a manner that is national and that recognize that both of us have a mission to fulfill," he said.

    "The mission to fulfill is that of the parliament work, crafting laws and debating. We will remain ready to discuss with MDC outside parliament."

    President Mugabe commended the five political parties which took part in the elections for urging their supporters to avoid violence, which characterized previous polls in the country.

    He said this had ensured the country abided by Southern African Development Community (SADC) election rules fully, which made Zimbabwe the first country to do so.

    "I am aware that the race was not just that of ZANU-PF, but it was also a race of the MDC and one or two independents," he said.

    "In a race of that nature we also had to comply with the rules and procedures that need to be followed. In this regard, I want to complement MDC for the role they played in ensuring peace that ensured people exercised their rights to vote."

    He said parties and independent candidates that lost the election should accept the outcome.

    "We want this message to go to the MDC that in any fight or sport, only one emerges as a winner," Mugabe said.

    "The losing side, as it gets disappointed, must not look at it as the end of the world. Accept defeat and avoid all kinds of excuses which might compromise relations."

    He also congratulated Zimbabweans for voting for the ruling party which ensured it won the poll convincingly.

    "We thank the people for having voted correctly, and for giving us the mandate once again to lead them in parliament for the next five years.

    Meanwhile, the MDC on Saturday rejected the outcome of Thursday's parliamentary election, saying the poll was rigged.

    William Bango, spokesman for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told reporters the party's national executive had agreed not to accept the outcome of the poll.

    "Following a meeting convened by the national executive yesterday (Friday), MDC has rejected the election results," he said.

    Bango, without specifying, said the MDC would take political measures to redress its grievance, hinting at calling for street protests by the party's supporters.

    "We are going to take a political alternative (route)," he said, declining to say exactly what the party planned.

    In previous cases, the MDC has taken electoral disputes to court, but has ruled out such moves this time.

    Zimbabwe held its sixth parliamentary election Thursday. Though five political parties contested the poll, it is largely seen as a two-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 elections held in 2000, the party just got a feeble majority with 62 seats. The MDC, a party launched just one year before that elections, 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. Enditem