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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe votes in Mugabe election | Zimbabwe votes in Mugabe election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting is reported to have got off to a slow start in Zimbabwe's run-off presidential election in which Robert Mugabe is the only candidate. | Voting is reported to have got off to a slow start in Zimbabwe's run-off presidential election in which Robert Mugabe is the only candidate. |
| Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the contest because of violence against his supporters. | Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the contest because of violence against his supporters. |
| He told them that if they had to vote to protect themselves from attacks to do so, but described the day as "a shameful humiliation" for the country. | He told them that if they had to vote to protect themselves from attacks to do so, but described the day as "a shameful humiliation" for the country. |
| Mr Mugabe ignored calls from world leaders to postpone the poll. | |
| Foreign ministers for the Group of Eight nations (G8) meeting in Japan said they could not accept the legitimacy of a Zimbabwe government "that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people". | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said they would consult other members of the UN Security Council to see what "next steps" might need to be taken. | |
| The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, said the mood among opposition supporters was one of fear. | |
| Earlier, Mr Mugabe brushed aside calls for the election to be postponed or called off and said his Zanu-PF party would continue to rule the country as it believed it should be ruled. | Earlier, Mr Mugabe brushed aside calls for the election to be postponed or called off and said his Zanu-PF party would continue to rule the country as it believed it should be ruled. |
| Robert Mugabe says he remains "open to discussion" | Robert Mugabe says he remains "open to discussion" |
| The state-owned Herald newspaper said "massive voter turnout" was expected in Friday's poll but Zimbabwean journalists in Harare and Bulawayo told the BBC voting had got off to a slow start - especially compared to the high turnout in the first round. | |
| Themba Nkosi, in Bulawayo, said there were very few people at polling stations in the crowded township of Cowdray Park. The only queue was in an area where pro-Mugabe war veterans lived. | Themba Nkosi, in Bulawayo, said there were very few people at polling stations in the crowded township of Cowdray Park. The only queue was in an area where pro-Mugabe war veterans lived. |
| He said officials for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had told supporters in rural areas to vote if they felt their lives were in danger - and to vote for Morgan Tsvangirai or spoil their ballot. | He said officials for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had told supporters in rural areas to vote if they felt their lives were in danger - and to vote for Morgan Tsvangirai or spoil their ballot. |
| Mr Tsvangirai condemned the election as "another tragic day in our nation's history". | Mr Tsvangirai condemned the election as "another tragic day in our nation's history". |
| "My fellow Zimbabweans, we know what is in your heart. We know you want peaceful democratic change. Don't risk your life. | "My fellow Zimbabweans, we know what is in your heart. We know you want peaceful democratic change. Don't risk your life. |
| "If possible, we ask you not to vote today. But if you must vote for Mr Mugabe because of threats to your life, then do so." | "If possible, we ask you not to vote today. But if you must vote for Mr Mugabe because of threats to your life, then do so." |
| One-man race | |
| A voter in Zimbabwe texted the BBC to say that after two hours of voting "only seven ballot papers were in the box and only the old were going". | |
| We as Zimbabweans need to decide the direction that we want the country to take - so we can only do that by voting Zimbabwean voter Election: At a glance | |
| Another, in Manicaland Province, said: "I am not going to vote in a one person race. | |
| "I will not vote for a dictator and for hunger while my brother was killed in cold blood." | |
| Zanu-PF supporter Richard Munsaka, in Hwange, Matebeland North Province said the question of a free and fair election "depends on the eyes of the beholder". | |
| "I'm not saying there is no violence in the east of the country... but not on a massive scale and that in itself cannot stop the whole country from going to vote just because a few individuals are kicking themselves." | |
| A woman in Harare said: "I will be exercising my right. We as Zimbabweans need to decide the direction that we want the country to take - so we can only do that by voting." | |
| Reports suggested Zanu-PF membership cards were selling for huge sums of money on the black market. | Reports suggested Zanu-PF membership cards were selling for huge sums of money on the black market. |
| Those buying the cards believe they will offer some protection from attack by militias, a BBC correspondent reports. | Those buying the cards believe they will offer some protection from attack by militias, a BBC correspondent reports. |
| Zimbabwe's police say the MDC are planning to disrupt the elections and have warned that any criminal activity will be met "head on, and with the full force of the law". | |
| Polling stations - which lack any impartial observers - are due to close at 1700 GMT. | |
| British 'demons' | |
| The MDC is contesting three by-elections that are also taking place on Friday following the deaths of three candidates - in circumstances not related to the political violence. | |
| The MDC won the parliamentary elections - also held in March - but the presidency is a far more powerful institution. | |
| 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, and on Thursday the police accused Britain and the US of backing MDC plans to disrupt Friday's voting. | The government blames the MDC for the violence, and on Thursday the police accused Britain and the US of backing MDC plans to disrupt Friday's voting. |
| "There is information that the United Kingdom and the United States of America are planning to use the MDC and civic organisations and others to stage violent demonstrations in order to disrupt the presidential run-off elections due tomorrow," said Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustino Mazango. | "There is information that the United Kingdom and the United States of America are planning to use the MDC and civic organisations and others to stage violent demonstrations in order to disrupt the presidential run-off elections due tomorrow," said Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustino Mazango. |
| Mr Mugabe went further, saying he had no quarrel with the British people, but with those in "number 10, Downing Street" - the official address of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Mr Mugabe went further, saying he had no quarrel with the British people, but with those in "number 10, Downing Street" - the official address of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| "The demons in number 10, Downing Street, must be exorcised by someone," he said. | "The demons in number 10, Downing Street, must be exorcised by someone," he said. |
| Regional leaders - including from Nigeria, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union - had called on Mr Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition. | Regional leaders - including from Nigeria, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union - had called on Mr Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition. |
| While he said he planned to attend an African Union summit in Egypt next week, Mr Mugabe said the AU had "no right in dictating to us what we should do with our constitution, and how we should govern this country". | While he said he planned to attend an African Union summit in Egypt next week, Mr Mugabe said the AU had "no right in dictating to us what we should do with our constitution, and how we should govern this country". |
| 'Willing to talk' | 'Willing to talk' |
| He told supporters during Thursday's Harare rally that he was not interested in the opinions of the rest of the world. | He told supporters during Thursday's Harare rally that he was not interested in the opinions of the rest of the world. |
| "I would rather the world left us in peace. Sanctions, well, let them continue with their sanctions, but we will find our way of existing," said Mr Mugabe. | "I would rather the world left us in peace. Sanctions, well, let them continue with their sanctions, but we will find our way of existing," said Mr Mugabe. |
| But he suggested negotiations with the MDC were possible. | But he suggested negotiations with the MDC were possible. |
| "Should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will, sure we won't be arrogant, we will be magnanimous and say 'let's sit down and talk,'" he said. | "Should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will, sure we won't be arrogant, we will be magnanimous and say 'let's sit down and talk,'" he said. |
| African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures | African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures |
| Mr Tsvangirai has said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off. | Mr Tsvangirai has said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off. |
| He said Zimbabwe's army was preparing to force people to vote in massive numbers for Mr Mugabe. | He said Zimbabwe's army was preparing to force people to vote in massive numbers for Mr Mugabe. |
| Villagers have also described how they have been ordered to feign arm injuries so they can be assisted in polling booths by Zanu-PF supporters, who will ensure they vote for Mr Mugabe. | Villagers have also described how they have been ordered to feign arm injuries so they can be assisted in polling booths by Zanu-PF supporters, who will ensure they vote for Mr Mugabe. |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Will you be voting? Have you witnessed any intimidation or violence? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Zimbabwe? Will you be voting? Have you witnessed any intimidation or violence? Send us your comments using the form below: |