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Zimbabwe 'too violent for poll' | Zimbabwe 'too violent for poll' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Zimbabwe is too violent to hold a presidential run-off, the head of a South African observer mission says. | Zimbabwe is too violent to hold a presidential run-off, the head of a South African observer mission says. |
"We have seen it, there are people in hospital who said they have been tortured," said Kingsley Mamabolo. | "We have seen it, there are people in hospital who said they have been tortured," said Kingsley Mamabolo. |
The head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has reportedly said the run-off could be delayed by up to a year. | The head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has reportedly said the run-off could be delayed by up to a year. |
No date has been set for the second round between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, which should be 21 days after the official results. | No date has been set for the second round between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, which should be 21 days after the official results. |
These, announced last Friday, said that Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe but not the 50% needed to be declared the winner. | These, announced last Friday, said that Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe but not the 50% needed to be declared the winner. |
Mr Tsvangirai, however, says the results were fixed and insists that he did pass the 50% threshold. | Mr Tsvangirai, however, says the results were fixed and insists that he did pass the 50% threshold. |
He has not said whether he would take part in a run-off, citing fraud and alleged state-sponsored violence against his supporters. | He has not said whether he would take part in a run-off, citing fraud and alleged state-sponsored violence against his supporters. |
Mr Mamabolo did not say who was behind the recent violence but pointed out that both side was accusing the other, so there was no doubt whether it was happening. | Mr Mamabolo did not say who was behind the recent violence but pointed out that both side was accusing the other, so there was no doubt whether it was happening. |
If Mugabe thinks he's going to get a default presidency, that will be over our dead bodies Tendai BitiMDC Secretary General | |
"You cannot have the next round taking place in this atmosphere; it will not be helpful," he said. | "You cannot have the next round taking place in this atmosphere; it will not be helpful," he said. |
Up to 40,000 farm-workers and their families have fled their homes because of the violence, a trade union official has said. | |
"They have been attacked by a group of militias wearing army uniforms," said Gertrude Hambira, General Secretary of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe. | |
"They have been accused of voting for the opposition. Most of them are either on the roadside or sheltering at some farms." | |
Much of the political violence in recent years has been on white-owned farms but all but 400 of these have been seized by the state and redistributed. | |
Church leaders in the western Matabeleland province say they have had to stop prayer meetings after some priests were abducted and tortured by ruling party supporters. | Church leaders in the western Matabeleland province say they have had to stop prayer meetings after some priests were abducted and tortured by ruling party supporters. |
Meanwhile, a photographer for the Reuters news agency has been arrested for using a satellite phone, the agency says. | |
Mr Mamabolo added that South African President Thabo Mbeki had sent a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. | |
Mr Mbeki is the lead mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, although Mr Tsvangirai has said he wants a replacement. | Mr Mbeki is the lead mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, although Mr Tsvangirai has said he wants a replacement. |
'Peace and transparency' | 'Peace and transparency' |
Meanwhile, the head of the Pan-African Parliament observer team, Marwick Khumalo, said Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe had told him that the run-off could be delayed by up to a year. | Meanwhile, the head of the Pan-African Parliament observer team, Marwick Khumalo, said Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe had told him that the run-off could be delayed by up to a year. |
"He told me it was not possible to organise an election within the 21 days required by the constitution," said Mr Khumalo, a Swaziland MP. | "He told me it was not possible to organise an election within the 21 days required by the constitution," said Mr Khumalo, a Swaziland MP. |
"He said the election would be organised within the shortest possible time and this would not be longer than 12 months." | "He said the election would be organised within the shortest possible time and this would not be longer than 12 months." |
Tough call for oppositionAnxiety in Harare | Tough call for oppositionAnxiety in Harare |
Mr Tsvangirai has called for international observers to be sent to monitor the run-off - a call backed up by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. | Mr Tsvangirai has called for international observers to be sent to monitor the run-off - a call backed up by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. |
Western observers were banned from the first round by the Zimbabwe government, which accused them of bias, after they said there had been fraud in previous elections. | Western observers were banned from the first round by the Zimbabwe government, which accused them of bias, after they said there had been fraud in previous elections. |
African Union head Jean Ping has told the BBC that the continental body would send extra observers to Zimbabwe for the run-off. | African Union head Jean Ping has told the BBC that the continental body would send extra observers to Zimbabwe for the run-off. |
He was speaking after meeting President Mugabe, as well as the leaders of Zambia and South Africa. | He was speaking after meeting President Mugabe, as well as the leaders of Zambia and South Africa. |
"The assurances given to me were that the second round would take place in peace and transparency," he said. | "The assurances given to me were that the second round would take place in peace and transparency," he said. |
If Mr Tsvangirai does not contest the run-off, Mr Mugabe would automatically win. | If Mr Tsvangirai does not contest the run-off, Mr Mugabe would automatically win. |
But MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti says they had other options, without elaborating. | But MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti says they had other options, without elaborating. |
"If Mugabe thinks he's going to get a default presidency, that will be over our dead bodies," Mr Biti said. | "If Mugabe thinks he's going to get a default presidency, that will be over our dead bodies," Mr Biti said. |
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says at least 25 of its supporters have been killed since the relatively peaceful first round on 29 March. | Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says at least 25 of its supporters have been killed since the relatively peaceful first round on 29 March. |
It says many hundreds have been forced from their homes in rural areas in a deliberate strategy to stop it campaigning effectively for the run-off. | It says many hundreds have been forced from their homes in rural areas in a deliberate strategy to stop it campaigning effectively for the run-off. |
But police and officials from Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have accused the MDC of staging attacks, while accusing the MDC of exaggerating the scale of the violence. |