OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada called Friday for African leaders to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe, after the country's elections chief ordered a runoff election between first vote-winner Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.

Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier called the results of the March 29 presidential vote announced Friday "contested," and said that Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, had "a clear lead" over strongman Mugabe.

But he acknowledged in a statement the Zimbabwe elections commission's call Friday for a runoff.

"While the official results are contested, the Zimbabwean people's strong desire for change is now beyond question," Bernier said in a statement.

"The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has stated that a run-off election is required, as neither candidate received more than 50 percent of votes," he said.

"Canada calls upon the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to bring the full force of their leadership and principles to bear on efforts to resolve this crisis.

"If a run-off takes place, it must be held in an open and transparent manner, in accordance with regional and international principles regarding elections. The presence of international and regional election observers will be essential," he said.

Bernier said the election results came after "an ongoing campaign of violence and intimidation by state security and paramilitary forces" against opponents of Mugabe.

Bernier also endorsed the call for the appointment of a UN special envoy on Zimbabwe and an international moratorium on arms sales to the country.

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