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| 'Huge violence' in Zimbabwe poll | |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwe's opposition says its activists have been attacked in a campaign of "massive violence" around the country since recent elections. | |
| "Militias are being rearmed, Zanu-PF supporters are being rearmed," said MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| He then began hearing the actual arguments of the case, reports Reuters news agency. | |
| 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. |
| 'Houses burnt' | 'Houses burnt' |
| The reports of violence coincide with the invasion of white-owned farms by so-called "war veterans". | The reports of violence coincide with the invasion of white-owned farms by so-called "war veterans". |
| Some 60 farmers have fled their homes, according to Commercial Farmers' Union President Trevor Gifford. | Some 60 farmers have fled their homes, according to Commercial Farmers' Union President Trevor Gifford. |
| Don't wait for dead bodies on the streets of Harare. Intervene now Tendai Biti, MDC | |
| "The situation is very severe. The evictions are continuing right round the country," he told Reuters news agency. | "The situation is very severe. The evictions are continuing right round the country," he told Reuters news agency. |
| He said that one of those affected was black. | He said that one of those affected was black. |
| "His workers' houses have all been burnt and he's been accused of voting for the opposition MDC." | "His workers' houses have all been burnt and he's been accused of voting for the opposition MDC." |
| Mr Biti said there had been a "complete militarization of Zimbabwean society since the 29th of March 2008 [election day]". | |
| He also condemned the "deafening silence" of the African Union over the crisis in Zimbabwe. | |
| "Don't wait for dead bodies on the streets of Harare. Intervene now," he urged. | |
| 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. | |
| One ex-army officer told a BBC contributor in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo that he had fled his home after being attacked for supporting independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni in the election. | One ex-army officer told a BBC contributor in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo that he had fled his home after being attacked for supporting independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni in the election. |
| "These guys [war veterans] have started violence and it will continue until the re-run," he said. | "These guys [war veterans] have started violence and it will continue until the re-run," he said. |
| He said that at least 20 other opposition supporters had been assaulted in the Nyamandlovu district north of Bulawayo. | He said that at least 20 other opposition supporters had been assaulted in the Nyamandlovu district north of Bulawayo. |
| Mr Makoni's campaign officials say their supporters have also been attacked in three other districts of Matabeleland. | Mr Makoni's campaign officials say their supporters have also 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. |
| 'Rubbish' | |
| 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. |
| President Mugabe has urged Zimbabweans to fight for their land | |
| 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 in recent days are rural areas which voted for the opposition. | Some reports suggest that the areas where there have been land invasions in recent days 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. | Results have been published in the parliamentary race and Zanu-PF has lost its majority for the first time since independence. |
| 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. |
| 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," Mr Biti earlier told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | |
| He said that anyone who worked for the ZEC was carefully vetted by the authorities. | |