Zimbabwe Court Orders Mugabe Hold Elections by July

In response to a citizen suit demanding a date be set

A Zimbabwean court has ordered Robert Mugabe to hold elections before the end of July, adding to a political dispute over the timing and funding of the vote in the country.

"The elections should take place no later than 31 July 2013," said the chief justice of the constitutional court, Godfrey Chidyausiku, on Friday.

The ruling follows an application to the court by a Zimbabwean citizen demanding that the country's president set an election date before the end of the current parliament, which is next month.

Mugabe, 89 is to face long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai in the vote.