HARARE, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said on Friday all foreign election observers invited for the March 29 harmonized polls were welcome to take part in the run-off presidential election next month.

    The run-off is still part of the original elections and the invitations are still valid. Those who were invited automatically qualify for the second round of elections, he was quoted by the state media New Ziana as saying.

    Zimbabwe is due to hold a presidential run-off poll between incumbent President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai on June 27.

    The run-off follows the failure of the initial election to produce an outright winner as prescribed by law.

    Over 40 groups of foreign observers were invited to participate in the elections, including Russia, the only European country.

    The African Union, Pan African Parliament, the Southern Africa Development Community and the East African Community were among groups invited to the election in March.

    Over 300 foreign journalists were also accredited to cover the election.