Harare, Zimbabwe - Lawyers' groups in Zimbabwe say a unilateral call for end of July polls by the country's president is illegal and he could be forced to overturn it at an upcoming regional meeting.
Veritas, an independent legal research group, said Friday that President Robert Mugabe has no power under the country's constitution to call for elections without the approval of government ministers.
Mugabe, in a coalition government with former opposition leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai after violent and disputed elections in 2008, set polls for July 31 arguing he is obeying a May court ruling.
Tsvangirai claims Mugabe needs his consent on when to hold elections.
The group said Mugabe could come under pressure from the regional leaders to rescind his decision at a meeting scheduled Saturday in Maputo, Mozambique. - Sapa-AP