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Tsvangirai warns Mugabe over poll Zimbabwe rejects Mandela rebuke
(about 2 hours later)
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has issued a final warning to President Robert Mugabe ahead of Friday's run-off presidential poll. Zimbabwe's ruling party has rejected criticism of its leadership by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Speaking to the UK's Times newspaper, Mr Tsvangirai said the time for negotiations would be over if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the vote. Mr Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a failure of leadership ahead of a run-off presidential poll from which the opposition has withdrawn.
On Wednesday, former South African leader Nelson Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a "failure of leadership". A ruling Zanu-PF official described Mr Mandela's comments as unacceptable and unfortunate for a man of his stature.
Southern African leaders have called for the run-off to be postponed. Southern African leaders have called on President Robert Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition.
The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election. The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election on Friday.
Nelson Mandela makes his first public remarks criticising Zimbabwe's leaders 'No postponement'
Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off over fears of increasing political violence and has called for foreign help to end the crisis. Speaking to the BBC, the parliamentary chief whip for Zanu-PF said Mr Mandela's statement was "very unfortunate".
Mr Mugabe, who will address his final campaign rally on Thursday, said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone" but only after the vote. "I don't see the merit in that kind of statement... [It's] totally unacceptable... the judgement that he has made," Jerome MacDonald Gumbo said.
'Illegitimate president' href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm', '1214465408', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisis href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm', '1214465408', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
Speaking to The Times by telephone, Mr Tsvangirai said negotiations between his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling Zanu-PF would be over if Mr Mugabe declared himself the winner of the vote. Asked whether the final round of the presidential vote would be postponed, he said: "There is no chance of that. There is no reason."
"How can you call yourself an elected president? You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate president," he said of Mr Mugabe. Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the election on Sunday, over fears of increasing political violence.
I am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process Morgan Tsvangirai Harare diary: Shell-shockedCan Sadc solve Zimbabwe's crisis?Mugabe stripped of knighthood
Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.
Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF. Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF. The government blames the MDC for the violence.
The government blames the MDC for the violence. President Mugabe, who will address his final campaign rally on Thursday, said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone", but only after the vote.
Mr Tsvangirai said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off.
Speaking to the UK's Times newspaper by telephone, Mr Tsvangirai said of Mr Mugabe: "How can you call yourself an elected president? You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate president."
Harare diary: Shell-shockedCan Sadc solve Zimbabwe's crisis?Mugabe stripped of knighthood
In a later statement, he said he was not advocating military intervention in Zimbabwe, and an article suggesting this published in his name in the UK's Guardian newspaper did not reflect his views.
Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late.Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late.
Diplomacy criticised A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo says army chief of staff Major General Engelbert Rugeje told a rally that his soldiers would force members of the public to go vote for Mr Mugabe.
Speaking at a dinner in London to mark his 90th birthday, Mr Mandela said: "We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we have seen... the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe." Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe also told the BBC that hundreds of people were in the South African embassy in Harare, seeking political refuge.
Mr Mandela had held his silence until now, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, to avoid undermining South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki's efforts as chief mediator on Zimbabwe.
Mr Mbeki's policy of "quiet diplomacy" has been criticised for its failure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Nelson Mandela spoke few words but they will carry immense weight simply because of who he is, says our correspondent.
The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.
The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.
/> 		Diplomacy criticised
Speaking at a dinner in London on Wednesday to mark his 90th birthday, Mr Mandela said: "We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we have seen... the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe."
They were the former leader's first comments on the crisis.
Mr Mandela had held his silence until now, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, to avoid undermining the efforts of South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki as chief mediator on Zimbabwe.
Mr Mbeki's policy of "quiet diplomacy" has been criticised for its failure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what's happening where you are using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published.Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what's happening where you are using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published.
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