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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Tsvangirai to run in second round | Tsvangirai to run in second round |
| (4 days 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 in South Africa, he said people would feel "betrayed" if he did not run, and vowed to return shortly. | Speaking in South Africa, he said people would feel "betrayed" if he did not run, and vowed to return shortly. |
| 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. |
| On Saturday, he told reporters that his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had faced a "very difficult" decision but that after consulting supporters in Zimbabwe, it had decided to take part. | On Saturday, he told reporters that his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had faced a "very difficult" decision but that after consulting supporters in Zimbabwe, it had decided to take part. |
| "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. |
| The opposition leader went on to demand "unfettered access of all international observers" and journalists covering the vote. | The opposition leader went on to demand "unfettered access of all international observers" and journalists covering the vote. |
| No choice for TsvangiraiAccounts of violenceMilitias 'to rig election' | No choice for TsvangiraiAccounts of violenceMilitias 'to rig election' |
| He also called for the deployment of southern African peacekeepers to curtail any violence. | He also called for the deployment of southern African peacekeepers to curtail any violence. |
| The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the announcement was not a big surprise, as boycotting the poll would have meant handing victory to President Mugabe by default. | The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the announcement was not a big surprise, as boycotting the poll would have meant handing victory to President Mugabe by default. |
| Our correspondent says Mr Tsvangirai has to get home soon - as long as he remains outside Zimbabwe, it will be hard to maintain the support he needs to win the run-off. | Our correspondent says Mr Tsvangirai has to get home soon - as long as he remains outside Zimbabwe, it will be hard to maintain the support he needs to win the run-off. |
| The MDC leader said he expected to return to Zimbabwe in the next two days. | The MDC leader said he expected to return to Zimbabwe in the next two days. |
| Beatings | 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 run-off. |
| 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 first-round results being declared. |
| Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for close to 30 yearsAccording to these official declarations, he won 47.9% of the vote, against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe. | |
| Although the first round was largely peaceful, the results were not announced until 2 May. | Although the first round was largely peaceful, the results were not announced until 2 May. |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | Mr Mugabe has been in office since independence in 1980. |