Zimbabwean authorities are delaying election results to allow them time to find an "alternative to the will of the people," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday.

It was the first time a British government minister had publicly accused Zimbabwe's authorities of trying to subvert the result of the March 29 election.

Miliband spoke after Zimbabwe's High Court rejected an opposition bid to force authorities to release the result of the presidential election after a two-week delay that has stoked fears of violence.

"There is unanimous demand, both publicly and privately, from the international community for the results to be released," Miliband told a news conference.

"We know why there is a delay in the results being released. That is to give time for an alternative to the will of the people to be found," he said.

The people of Zimbabwe had clearly shown in the election that there was not a majority for President Robert Mugabe or his government, Miliband said.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says Mugabe's 28-year rule is over and says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, defeated Mugabe in the vote.

It took the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to court to try to force it to announce the result.

High Court Judge Tendai Uchena found in favour of the commission, which says it is still counting and verifying votes.

The opposition says Mugabe is holding back the announcement to give him time to organise a violent response to his biggest electoral setback.