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Zimbabwe election run-up 'flawed' Zimbabwe election run-up 'flawed'
(9 minutes later)
An international human rights group has criticised Zimbabwe for failing to meet its democratic obligations in the run up to elections on 29 March.An international human rights group has criticised Zimbabwe for failing to meet its democratic obligations in the run up to elections on 29 March.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the government has intimidated opposition supporters, and that the electoral process is deeply flawed.Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the government has intimidated opposition supporters, and that the electoral process is deeply flawed.
The US-based group says Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission is inadequately prepared to run the poll.The US-based group says Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission is inadequately prepared to run the poll.
The government has yet to respond to the report.The government has yet to respond to the report.
The ZEC have announced that 5,934,768 people have registered to vote in 8,998 polling stations.The ZEC have announced that 5,934,768 people have registered to vote in 8,998 polling stations.
The opposition say they have found evidence of dead people registered to vote including a former minister who died 30 years ago.The opposition say they have found evidence of dead people registered to vote including a former minister who died 30 years ago.
They have gone to court seeking an electronic copy of the register to allow computerised searches and the easier detection of any fraud.They have gone to court seeking an electronic copy of the register to allow computerised searches and the easier detection of any fraud.
CriticismCriticism
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network says polling stations have been biased in favour of rural areas where President Robert Mugabe has more support.The Zimbabwe Election Support Network says polling stations have been biased in favour of rural areas where President Robert Mugabe has more support.
This could lead to urban supporters unable to cast their vote, it saidThis could lead to urban supporters unable to cast their vote, it said
But in a campaign rally on Tuesday, Mr Mugabe told supporters that 5,000 generators will be stationed at polling stations across the country in case of power cuts and to enable voting to continue until 7pm he said.But in a campaign rally on Tuesday, Mr Mugabe told supporters that 5,000 generators will be stationed at polling stations across the country in case of power cuts and to enable voting to continue until 7pm he said.
Mr Mugabe also told the rally in Gweru, south of the capital, that his government was considering taking punitive measures against British residents in Zimbabwe because of UK sanctions on Zimbabwe, AP news agency reported.
In the past, the government has pointed to a series of new laws designed to deal with electoral criticisms.In the past, the government has pointed to a series of new laws designed to deal with electoral criticisms.
But HRW says those laws have either come too late to make any difference, or been selectively applied.But HRW says those laws have either come too late to make any difference, or been selectively applied.
It accuses the security forces of intimidating and torturing opposition supporters, and state media of blatantly biased election coverage.It accuses the security forces of intimidating and torturing opposition supporters, and state media of blatantly biased election coverage.
The report concludes that there is little chance that the polls will either establish democracy in Zimbabwe, or bring an end to the country's ongoing political crisis.The report concludes that there is little chance that the polls will either establish democracy in Zimbabwe, or bring an end to the country's ongoing political crisis.