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Police free Zimbabwean activists Police free Zimbabwean activists
(10 minutes later)
Police in Zimbabwe have freed more than 180 opposition activists without charge four days after they were detained.Police in Zimbabwe have freed more than 180 opposition activists without charge four days after they were detained.
This comes as a Zimbabwean human rights group accuses the government of using violence in rural areas to rig a possible presidential run-off.This comes as a Zimbabwean human rights group accuses the government of using violence in rural areas to rig a possible presidential run-off.
A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo reports that the bodies of two opposition activists have been found after they were abducted.A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo reports that the bodies of two opposition activists have been found after they were abducted.
Allies of President Robert Mugabe say the violence is being exaggerated.Allies of President Robert Mugabe say the violence is being exaggerated.
Another BBC contributor, in the eastern town of Mutare, reports that opposition activists are starting to take revenge on ruling party militants.Another BBC contributor, in the eastern town of Mutare, reports that opposition activists are starting to take revenge on ruling party militants.
He says they burnt down a militant base in Odzi, just north of Mutare on Monday, while the state-owned Herald newspaper says an army training camp was attacked.He says they burnt down a militant base in Odzi, just north of Mutare on Monday, while the state-owned Herald newspaper says an army training camp was attacked.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • A report on the situation in Zimbabwe is to be presented to the UN Security Council later on Tuesday.
  • Foreign ministers in the European Union, which has a ban on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe, have called on other countries to impose a similar policy.
  • A teachers' union reports that teachers are fleeing rural areas after being accused of helping the opposition when they worked as election officials.
  • US President George Bush has accused Mr Mugabe of "failing" and now "intimidating" the people of Zimbabwe.
  • Earlier, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN told the BBC that whoever won the presidential race would have to form a government of national unity.
  • The final five results from a partial parliamentary recount are expected.
  • State radio reports that the verification of presidential votes will start on Thursday and could take several days to complete.
    		•  • A report on the situation in Zimbabwe is being presented to the UN Security Council.
    • Foreign ministers in the European Union, which has a ban on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe, have called on other countries to impose a similar policy.
    • A teachers' union reports that teachers are fleeing rural areas after being accused of helping the opposition when they worked as election officials.
    • US President George Bush has accused Mr Mugabe of "failing" and now "intimidating" the people of Zimbabwe.
    • Earlier, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN told the BBC that whoever won the presidential race would have to form a government of national unity.
    • The final five results from a partial parliamentary recount are expected.
    • State radio reports that the verification of presidential votes will start on Thursday and could take several days to complete.
    'Angry''Angry'
    The opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Monday won a High Court order that its activists should be either released or charged on Monday.The opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Monday won a High Court order that its activists should be either released or charged on Monday.
    "The police had no basis to hold them for this long. I am angry because they need not have been arrested at all," Alec Muchadehama told Reuters news agency."The police had no basis to hold them for this long. I am angry because they need not have been arrested at all," Alec Muchadehama told Reuters news agency.
    Blogs dismiss recount
    The police said the arrests at the MDC headquarters in Harare were in connection with political violence but the MDC said most of those detained were the victims of such violence, and had fled their homes in rural areas.The police said the arrests at the MDC headquarters in Harare were in connection with political violence but the MDC said most of those detained were the victims of such violence, and had fled their homes in rural areas.
    Masvingo police chief Mhekia Tanyanyiwa has confirmed the deaths of the two MDC supporters, our contributor says.Masvingo police chief Mhekia Tanyanyiwa has confirmed the deaths of the two MDC supporters, our contributor says.
    Police sources say Zvidzai Mapurisa was abducted from his home on Saturday and beaten, before his body was found flouting in a dam.Police sources say Zvidzai Mapurisa was abducted from his home on Saturday and beaten, before his body was found flouting in a dam.
    Cathrine Mukwenje was attacked by suspected ruling party militants, who gouged out one of her eyes.Cathrine Mukwenje was attacked by suspected ruling party militants, who gouged out one of her eyes.
    She later died from her injuries.She later died from her injuries.
    Kucaca Phulu, chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights), said such assaults were "a form of rigging".Kucaca Phulu, chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights), said such assaults were "a form of rigging".
    He said hundreds of people had been forced from their homes.He said hundreds of people had been forced from their homes.
    The MDC says this has often been in rural areas which Zanu-PF lost in the parliamentary elections.The MDC says this has often been in rural areas which Zanu-PF lost in the parliamentary elections.
    "If there is a run-off, what is of grave concern to us is that all these displaced people will not be able to go back to their home areas to vote," Mr Phulu said, according to the AFP news agency."If there is a run-off, what is of grave concern to us is that all these displaced people will not be able to go back to their home areas to vote," Mr Phulu said, according to the AFP news agency.
    'Unacceptable''Unacceptable'
    But Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN Boniface Chidyausiku dismissed as "totally false" the argument that the delay was to give Zanu-PF time to rig the outcome.But Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN Boniface Chidyausiku dismissed as "totally false" the argument that the delay was to give Zanu-PF time to rig the outcome.
    He pointed out that similar claims were made when the electoral commission said it was recounting 23 parliamentary results.He pointed out that similar claims were made when the electoral commission said it was recounting 23 parliamentary results.
    President Bush says Robert Mugabe has "failed his people"President Bush says Robert Mugabe has "failed his people"
    Eighteen of these results were announced at the weekend and were unchanged from those originally announced, meaning the opposition has a majority in parliament for the first time in Zimbabwe's history.Eighteen of these results were announced at the weekend and were unchanged from those originally announced, meaning the opposition has a majority in parliament for the first time in Zimbabwe's history.
    MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he also won the presidential race outright but independent monitors say he may have fallen short of the 50% needed to avoid a run-off.MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he also won the presidential race outright but independent monitors say he may have fallen short of the 50% needed to avoid a run-off.
    Our Mutare contributor reports that rival political activists have been engaged in running battles in the poor Sakubva district, following reports that two houses have been burnt down.Our Mutare contributor reports that rival political activists have been engaged in running battles in the poor Sakubva district, following reports that two houses have been burnt down.
    He also quotes an official from the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) as saying that 9,000 teachers are afraid of reporting for duty at the start of the new term, following attacks by ruling party supporters.He also quotes an official from the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) as saying that 9,000 teachers are afraid of reporting for duty at the start of the new term, following attacks by ruling party supporters.
    Teachers at two schools in the western Lupane districts have also refused to work, while soldiers are using their schools as bases for attacking opposition supporters, a BBC contributor in the area says.Teachers at two schools in the western Lupane districts have also refused to work, while soldiers are using their schools as bases for attacking opposition supporters, a BBC contributor in the area says.
    President Bush said: "The violence and intimidation is simply unacceptable" and called on Zimbabwe's neighbours to increase pressure on Mr Mugabe.President Bush said: "The violence and intimidation is simply unacceptable" and called on Zimbabwe's neighbours to increase pressure on Mr Mugabe.
    But following the reports of revenge attacks by Zanu-PF supporters, Mr Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba said the security services would use any force needed to "discourage acts that could lead to anarchy".But following the reports of revenge attacks by Zanu-PF supporters, Mr Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba said the security services would use any force needed to "discourage acts that could lead to anarchy".