TIMELINE: Aftermath of Zimbabwe's crucial elections

(Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change won a March presidential election but faces a run-off vote after its leader failed to garner enough votes against President Robert Mugabe, the electoral body said.

Below is a chronology of key developments since presidential, parliamentary and local elections on March 29.

March 30 - The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claims victory based on early results.

March 31 - Electoral commission starts announcing results of parliamentary election. Seats are split evenly between the opposition and ruling party. No presidential results emerge.

-- Observer mission from regional group SADC says elections were free and fair but expresses concerns over delay to results.

-- United States, European Union and former colonial power Britain voice concern over delay to vote counting.

April 1 - ZANU-PF projections obtained by Reuters show opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would beat Mugabe but not with enough votes to avoid a run-off.

April 2 - MDC says it won presidential and parliamentary elections and calls on Mugabe to concede. ZANU-PF says MDC claims are "wishful" and Mugabe is going nowhere.

-- State-owned newspaper, The Herald, says Tsvangirai and Mugabe -- frontrunners in a field of candidates -- will face a run-off as neither will get 51 percent for an outright win.

-- Latest parliamentary election results show ZANU-PF with 93 seats and the MDC on 91, out of 206.

April 4 - ZANU-PF backs Mugabe to fight a run-off.

April 6 - MDC goes to court to try to force release of presidential results.

April 7 - Tsvangirai meets Jacob Zuma, head of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, after appealing for help from outside powers to end Mugabe's rule.

-- Police say they have arrested seven election officials for undercounting votes for Mugabe.

April 12 - Mugabe snubs emergency meeting of SADC.

April 13 - The MDC vow to challenge a partial recount announced the day before, designed to help Mugabe.