Zambia urges postponement of Zimbabwe run-off poll

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said on Sunday that Zimbabwe's June 27 presidential run-off election should be postponed to avert a catastrophe in southern Africa.

"There are a lot of unconstitutional things that have been done in this process (election campaign). It will, therefore, not be out of fashion to postpone this election to avert a catastrophe in this region," Mwanawasa told reporters in Lusaka.

He spoke several hours after Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced his withdrawal from the run-off.

(Reporting by Shapi Shacinda; editing by Paul Simao)