Zimbabwe election: Three dead in violent Harare protests as security forces battle demonstrators after Zanu-PF win in parliament vote

A person has been shot dead amid the protests, AFP reports. Two other news agencies, Reuters and the Associated Press, also reported the death.

A witness told Reuters the person was shot by soldiers near a bus rank in central Harare.

Women are running away shrieking as Zimbabwean soldiers approach them and try to strike them while security forces clear the streets of the capital, the Associated Press reports.

Zimbabwe's justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the army was deployed on the streets of Harare to disperse a violent crowd and to restore "peace and tranquility."

"The presence of the army is not to intimidate people but to ensure that law and order is maintained. They are there to assist the police," Mr Ziyambi said in an interview broadcast on eNCA television.

"They are there as a people's army to ensure that peace and security prevails."

Mr Ziyambi said he had not heard whether people were injured by the army.

An uneasy silence is settling over Zimbabwe's capital, the Associated Press reports, after people fled military and other security forces firing live ammunition to break up opposition protests.

At least one person was killed.

Soldiers have been stationed at intersections in Harare as the sun begins to set. 

Hundreds of angry opposition supporters had gathered outside the compound of the electoral commission before scattering as the military moved in. 

The violence came shortly after Western election observers urged the release of the presidential results as soon as possible and warned a delay could lead to "volatility." 

Zimbabwe's army was deployed in Harare's streets at the request of the police, who could not cope with the violence that erupted following a resounding ruling party victory in parliamentary elections, a police spokeswoman said.

Speaking on state television, Charity Charamba said regular police had been overwhelmed by the protesters, forcing police commissioner general to ask the home affairs minister in charge of the police to deploy armed soldiers.

The United Nations secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, has called on Zimbabwe's political leaders and population "to exercise restraint and reject any form of violence while awaiting resolution of the disputes and announcement of the election results," his spokesman said.

"We are concerned about the reports that there have been incidences of violence in parts of Zimbabwe," Farhan Haq told reporters.

"We'd like to remind the incumbents and the political parties of the commitments they made, the peace pledge and the code of conduct to ensure a peaceful electoral process."

The United States Embassy in Zimbabwe has said it is "deeply concerned" after the military moved into the capital to disperse hundreds of opposition protesters. 

It released a statement calling on Zimbabwean security forces to "use restraint" and urged the leaders of political parties to call on their supporters for calm.

Zimbabwe's police say they have invoked a strict security act forbidding public gatherings after security forces swept into the capital to disperse hundreds of opposition protesters.

State broadcaster ZBC cited police spokeswoman Charity Charamba saying police asked for the military's help because they were "unable to cope." 

Police say the protesters caused "massive destruction of property" in Harare. Meanwhile, many Zimbabweans have expressed shock at the military firing live ammunition. 

Police say they have warned political leaders accused of incitement that "the long arm of the law will certainly catch up with them." 

Both the opposition and Western election observers have urged that presidential election results be released as soon as possible. 

Three people have died in violence in Harare, Zimbabwe police have said, according to the state broadcaster ZBC.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader's spokesman, Nkululeko Sibanda, has said the army's reaction in quelling disturbances in the capital was disproportionate and unjustified.