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Tsvangirai to run in second round Tsvangirai to run in second round
(30 minutes later)
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will contest a presidential run-off, despite fears of widespread poll violence.Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will contest a presidential run-off, despite fears of widespread poll violence.
Speaking from Pretoria in South Africa, he said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not stand.Speaking from Pretoria in South Africa, he said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not stand.
Mr Tsvangirai called for an end to violence, as well as full access by international monitors and media.Mr Tsvangirai called for an end to violence, as well as full access by international monitors and media.
Official first-round results put him ahead of President Robert Mugabe, but not by enough votes to win outright.Official first-round results put him ahead of President Robert Mugabe, but not by enough votes to win outright.
Mr Tsvangirai had earlier insisted he had secured more than 50% of the vote, and that there was therefore no need for a second round.Mr Tsvangirai had earlier insisted he had secured more than 50% of the vote, and that there was therefore no need for a second round.
But on Saturday, he told reporters in Pretoria that his MDC would contest the run-off. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7386316.stm">Accounts of violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7391688.stm">Militias 'to rig election'
But on Saturday, he told reporters in Pretoria that his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would contest the run-off.
"I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," he said."I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," he said.
He went on to demand "unfettered access for all international observers" and foreign journalist covering the vote. He went on to demand "unfettered access of all international observers" and journalist covering the vote.
Beatings The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet set a date for the run-off.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet set a date for the second round. Mr Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May - within three weeks of the first-round results being declared.
Mr Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May - within three weeks of the results being declared. Returning home
According to these official declarations, he won 47.9% of the vote in the first round, against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe. According to these official declarations, he won 47.9% of the vote, against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai said he would soon return to Zimbabwe, but did not give a date.Mr Tsvangirai said he would soon return to Zimbabwe, but did not give a date.
The first round election was largely peaceful, but the results were not announced until 2 May. Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for close to 30 years
The MDC says the delay gave the authorities time to rig the vote and carry out attacks on its supporters in anticipation of a run-off. Although the first round was largely peaceful, the results were not announced until 2 May.
High-profile opponents have been rounded up and MDC activists have described beatings by government-backed militias. The MDC says the delay gave the authorities time to rig the counting and carry out attacks on its supporters in anticipation of a run-off.
A trade union official on Thursday said that 40,000 farm-workers and their relatives had fled their homes because of violent attacks
The MDC says at least 25 of its supporters have been killed since the first round, and hundreds have been forced from their homes in rural areas.
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.
Mr Mugabe has been in office since independence in 1980.