"The Secretary-General is concerned that presidential results have yet to be released in spite of the constitutional deadline," the UN chief's spokeswoman Michele Montas said in a statement. "He urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to discharge its responsibility and release the results expeditiously and with transparency."
"He calls upon all actors to act responsibly, exercise restraint and calm, and to address all issues regarding the elections through recourse to legal means and dialogue as necessary for the good of all Zimbabweans," Montas said.
On Monday, the country's High Court again postponed a ruling on the opposition's demands to publish the results of the March 29 vote, which have been delayed by President Robert Mugabe, 84, who has ruled the nation since its independence from Britain 28 years ago.
The opposition asked the United Nations on Saturday to step in to end the political crisis in the southern African state, plagued by HIV/AIDS epidemic, sky-high high inflation, 80% unemployment, and food shortages.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party claims its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai won 50.3% of the vote to Mugabe's 43.8%, citing a collated count of results posted outside each polling station. Former ZANU-PF loyalist Simba Makoni reportedly garnered around 8%.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga called the announcement "irresponsible" and warned that that a premature victory claim could provoke the authorities and the army.
