Mugabe rival quits election race

[London Lass]

Mugabe rival quits election race

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of Friday's presidential run-off, handing victory to President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai said there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself".

He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide".

But the ruling Zanu-PF said Mr Tsvangirai had taken the decision to avoid "humiliation" in the poll.

In full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7467990.stm

[RayStar]

I just watched an update on this on NBC news. This is a real mess. LL I have to do some research on this topic. Rest assured I really want to become more educated on the politics in Africa. I hate it when people are abused.
Thanks for the post.:smile:

[London Lass]

I just watched an update on this on NBC news. This is a real mess. LL I have to do some research on this topic. Rest assured I really want to become more educated on the politics in Africa. I hate it when people are abused.
Thanks for the post.:smile:

It is a real mess - a very sad mess! I would like to think that the UN will raise their game, there is so much violence and death, something urgent needs to be done. I know a couple of people who live here in the UK, who have managed to get their family out of Zim, thanks to friends and other family, but they had to literally escape into SA...their stories were harrowing, and when my friends were telling me about it, I was crying my eyes out - what they are going through is shocking - but at least they are alive and safe now...but so many others aren't!

[London Lass]

Update:

Zimbabwean elections to go ahead

Zimbabwean officials have said a run-off presidential election will go ahead, despite the withdrawal of opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said Mr Tsvangirai's announcement was a ruse - he had not sent a formal notice yet.

Mr Tsvangirai said he would pull out to protect people from violence by ruling party Zanu-PF militias his party blames for killing 86 opposition supporters.

The move has sparked international criticism of Zimbabwe's government.

KEY POLL COMPLAINTS
Violence: 86 killed, 200,000 displaced
MDC rallies banned
MDC leaders arrested, harassed
Food aid not given to opposition areas
State media refused MDC adverts
Zanu-PF supporters to be used as election officials

But President Robert Mugabe, however, has blamed the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, for the violence.

The leader of neighbouring Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa - who is head of the regional Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) - said a vote held in current conditions would be an "embarrassment" to the region.

The US and UK have said they are prepared to bring Zimbabwe before the UN Security Council over the election violence.

But South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in the crisis, called for further dialogue.

"From our point of view it is still necessary that the political leadership of Zimbabwe should get together and find a solution to the challenges that face Zimbabwe," he said.

'Humiliation fear'

Mr Chinamasa said Zanu-PF was not treating Mr Tsvangirai's "threats" to withdraw seriously.

"This is the 11th time that Tsvangirai has threatened to withdraw from the presidential run-off and on each occasion I have challenged him to put it in writing as required by the law," he said.

Mr Tsvangirai's announcement of withdrawal was to avoid "humiliation", he added.

"Tsvangirai went into the election thinking that it was a sprint and was not prepared for a marathon and wants to avoid defeat," he said.

"He spent his time globe-trotting and gallivanting in Europe and left MDC-T supporters without leadership."

FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME

On Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said that there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself".

He said that while the decision had been a difficult one it was necessary to protect the people of Zimbabwe.

The opposition's decision was announced after its supporters, heading to a rally in the capital Harare, came under attack.

The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Tsvangirai did not want to expose his supporters to any more violence.

Our correspondent adds that the country's economic crisis - with unofficial figures putting inflation at 2m% - could drive Zimbabwe's government to negotiate for a political solution.

The MDC won the parliamentary vote in March, and claims to have won the first round of the presidential contest outright.

In the official results, Mr Tsvangirai led but failed to gain enough votes to avoid a run-off.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7468849.stm

[London Lass]

Update:

Tsvangirai seeks embassy refuge

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has taken refuge in the Dutch embassy in the capital, Harare.

A Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Tsvangirai had spent the night at the embassy as he feared for his safety but had not requested asylum.

On Sunday, he announced he was withdrawing from a presidential election run-off in the face of violence from ruling party militias.

Zimbabwean officials have said the second round will still go ahead.

But Botswana's Foreign Minister Pando Skelemani said leaders of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) would have to decide whether Zimbabwe could have a legitimate president in the current political climate.


In full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7469705.stm

[London Lass]

Update:

UN: Free Zimbabwe poll impossible

The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation against Zimbabwe's opposition party.

In a statement, the 15-member body said a free and fair presidential run-off vote on Friday would be "impossible".

Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said he would leave the Dutch embassy in Harare over the next 48 hours.

The Movement for Democratic Change leader took refuge there on Sunday night after pulling out of the poll saying he did not want more bloodshed.


In full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7470477.stm