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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwean activists 'beaten up' | Zimbabwean activists 'beaten up' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| At least 80 Zimbabwean opposition activists have been assaulted by pro-government militants in different parts of the country, the opposition says. | At least 80 Zimbabwean opposition activists have been assaulted by pro-government militants in different parts of the country, the opposition says. |
| The alleged assaults took place in the eastern province of Manicaland and Matabeleland in the west. | The alleged assaults took place in the eastern province of Manicaland and Matabeleland in the west. |
| This year's election campaign has been relatively peaceful until now. | This year's election campaign has been relatively peaceful until now. |
| Meanwhile, a judge has agreed to hear an opposition request that the results of last month's presidential election be released, as an urgent matter. | |
| "The case should proceed," said Justice Tendai Uchena in Harare's High Court. | "The case should proceed," said Justice Tendai Uchena in Harare's High Court. |
| The opposition says the violence is meant to intimidate rural voters ahead of a possible run-off poll. | The opposition says the violence is meant to intimidate rural voters ahead of a possible run-off poll. |
| People are being beaten for supporting the MDC Misheck Kagurabadza, MDC | People are being beaten for supporting the MDC Misheck Kagurabadza, MDC |
| Independent and ruling party projections say opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai gained most votes but not the 50% needed to win outright. | Independent and ruling party projections say opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai gained most votes but not the 50% needed to win outright. |
| His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says he gained 50.3% of the vote and so should be declared the winner. | His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says he gained 50.3% of the vote and so should be declared the winner. |
| President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF has demanded a recount of the vote, while police have arrested at least seven election officials, accused of under-counting votes cast for Zimbabwe's long-time leader. | President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF has demanded a recount of the vote, while police have arrested at least seven election officials, accused of under-counting votes cast for Zimbabwe's long-time leader. |
| 'Battle for land' | 'Battle for land' |
| The reports of violence coincide with the invasion of at least 18 white-owned farms by so-called "war veterans". | The reports of violence coincide with the invasion of at least 18 white-owned farms by so-called "war veterans". |
| "These guys have started violence and it will continue until the re-run," one ex-army officer who has fled his home told a BBC contributor in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo. | |
| He said that at least 20 other supporters of independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni had been assaulted in the Nyamandlovu district north of Bulawayo. | |
| Mr Makoni's campaign officials say their supporters have been attacked in three other districts of Matabeleland. | Mr Makoni's campaign officials say their supporters have been attacked in three other districts of Matabeleland. |
| In Manicaland, opposition parliamentary candidate Misheck Kagurabadza said that about 60 families had fled their homes after being harassed by so-called "war veterans" who had invaded nearby white-owned farms. | In Manicaland, opposition parliamentary candidate Misheck Kagurabadza said that about 60 families had fled their homes after being harassed by so-called "war veterans" who had invaded nearby white-owned farms. |
| "People are being beaten for supporting the MDC," said the MP-elect for the Mutasa South constituency, just north of Mutare. | "People are being beaten for supporting the MDC," said the MP-elect for the Mutasa South constituency, just north of Mutare. |
| One of his election agents was seriously assaulted, he said. | One of his election agents was seriously assaulted, he said. |
| The reports have not been independently confirmed, although they have been reported to the police. | The reports have not been independently confirmed, although they have been reported to the police. |
| The invasion of white-owned farms came as President Mugabe called on the black population to ensure white farmers did not reverse his land redistribution programme. | The invasion of white-owned farms came as President Mugabe called on the black population to ensure white farmers did not reverse his land redistribution programme. |
| "Land must remain in our hands. The land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites," the state-owned Herald newspaper quoted him as saying on Monday. | "Land must remain in our hands. The land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites," the state-owned Herald newspaper quoted him as saying on Monday. |
| The widespread invasion of white-owned farms from 2000 coincided with a campaign of intimidation against opposition supporters in rural areas. | The widespread invasion of white-owned farms from 2000 coincided with a campaign of intimidation against opposition supporters in rural areas. |
| The government says the land reform programme was needed to right colonial era wrongs, when black villagers were evicted from the most fertile land. | The government says the land reform programme was needed to right colonial era wrongs, when black villagers were evicted from the most fertile land. |
| Some reports suggest that the areas where there have been land invasions are rural areas which voted for the opposition. | |
| Results have been published in the parliamentary race and Zanu-PF has lost its majority for the first time since independence. | |
| 'Bloodshed' | 'Bloodshed' |
| Police said the election officials have been charged with fraud and criminal abuse of duty, accused of taking nearly 5,000 votes away from Mr Mugabe. | Police said the election officials have been charged with fraud and criminal abuse of duty, accused of taking nearly 5,000 votes away from Mr Mugabe. |
| On Monday, Mr Tsvangirai visited regional powerhouse South Africa, where he met ANC President Jacob Zuma. | On Monday, Mr Tsvangirai visited regional powerhouse South Africa, where he met ANC President Jacob Zuma. |
| President Mugabe has urged Zimbabweans to fight for their land | |
| No word has emerged from those talks. Mr Mugabe's critics have long urged South Africa to take a tougher line on Zimbabwe's leader over allegations of human rights abuses. | No word has emerged from those talks. Mr Mugabe's critics have long urged South Africa to take a tougher line on Zimbabwe's leader over allegations of human rights abuses. |
| Government ministers have said the arrested election officials were paid to falsify the election results. | Government ministers have said the arrested election officials were paid to falsify the election results. |
| They say the results posted outside polling stations showed more votes for Mr Mugabe than the forms forwarded to Harare for counting. | They say the results posted outside polling stations showed more votes for Mr Mugabe than the forms forwarded to Harare for counting. |
| "That's absolute rubbish," MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "That's absolute rubbish," MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "That's the desperate act of a dinosaur regime that has lost an election," he said. | "That's the desperate act of a dinosaur regime that has lost an election," he said. |
| Mr Biti said that anyone who worked for the ZEC was carefully vetted by the authorities. | Mr Biti said that anyone who worked for the ZEC was carefully vetted by the authorities. |
| He also urged the international community, and African leaders in particular, to press Mr Mugabe to accept defeat, saying otherwise there could be "bloodshed". | He also urged the international community, and African leaders in particular, to press Mr Mugabe to accept defeat, saying otherwise there could be "bloodshed". |
| "They want to see dead bodies before they send Kofi Annan," he said, referring to recent violence over disputed elections in Kenya. | "They want to see dead bodies before they send Kofi Annan," he said, referring to recent violence over disputed elections in Kenya. |