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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MDC urges intervention in 'war' | MDC urges intervention in 'war' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| African leaders and the UN must act to ensure democracy triumphs in Zimbabwe, says a key opposition figure. | African leaders and the UN must act to ensure democracy triumphs in Zimbabwe, says a key opposition figure. |
| MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said Zimbabwe was now "in a war situation" following disputed polls on 29 March. | MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said Zimbabwe was now "in a war situation" following disputed polls on 29 March. |
| He said 10 people had been killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced in post-election violence. | He said 10 people had been killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced in post-election violence. |
| After a request from the ruling party, electoral officials are conducting a partial recount of the parliamentary vote, won by the MDC. | After a request from the ruling party, electoral officials are conducting a partial recount of the parliamentary vote, won by the MDC. |
| Votes are being recounted in 23 constituencies, a process election officials say could take more than three days to complete. | Votes are being recounted in 23 constituencies, a process election officials say could take more than three days to complete. |
| Three weeks after polls were held, the presidential result is still unknown. | Three weeks after polls were held, the presidential result is still unknown. |
| The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who has fled the country - insists he won the presidential vote outright, and has demanded that the results be released. | The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who has fled the country - insists he won the presidential vote outright, and has demanded that the results be released. |
| 'Frustration' | 'Frustration' |
| Speaking at a news conference in Johannesburg, neighbouring South Africa, Mr Biti urged African leaders and the United Nations to prevent a slide towards violence in Zimbabwe. | Speaking at a news conference in Johannesburg, neighbouring South Africa, Mr Biti urged African leaders and the United Nations to prevent a slide towards violence in Zimbabwe. |
| Tendai Biti on the continuing uncertainty surrounding the vote | |
| He said the MDC was trying to prevent Zimbabweans being "seduced" into violence, but pointed out that amid a lack of jobs, food and medicines they were getting increasingly frustrated. | He said the MDC was trying to prevent Zimbabweans being "seduced" into violence, but pointed out that amid a lack of jobs, food and medicines they were getting increasingly frustrated. |
| In addition to the claims of post-election violence, the opposition also says dozens of its supporters have been arrested by the security forces. | In addition to the claims of post-election violence, the opposition also says dozens of its supporters have been arrested by the security forces. |
| "If democracy fails in Zimbabwe, what options are you leaving to the people of Zimbabwe?" he asked. | "If democracy fails in Zimbabwe, what options are you leaving to the people of Zimbabwe?" he asked. |
| Mr Biti called the recount "mendacious and illegal", and said there was evidence of tampering with the ballot boxes. | Mr Biti called the recount "mendacious and illegal", and said there was evidence of tampering with the ballot boxes. |
| He said his party would not participate in a run-off - though the party has previously said it would participate if certain conditions were met. | He said his party would not participate in a run-off - though the party has previously said it would participate if certain conditions were met. |
| Evidence of violence | Evidence of violence |
| The government has not commented on these latest accusations, but has so far denounced all of the opposition's claims as lies. | The government has not commented on these latest accusations, but has so far denounced all of the opposition's claims as lies. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI predict that the situation will end up like Kenya. Mugabe will be encouraged by the African Union to form a national unity governmentFrank Hartry, South AfricaSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI predict that the situation will end up like Kenya. Mugabe will be encouraged by the African Union to form a national unity governmentFrank Hartry, South AfricaSend us your comments |
| The BBC's Will Ross in South Africa - the BBC is barred from Zimbabwe - says it is difficult to verify the numbers of people the MDC claims have been killed, wounded or displaced in recent political violence. | The BBC's Will Ross in South Africa - the BBC is barred from Zimbabwe - says it is difficult to verify the numbers of people the MDC claims have been killed, wounded or displaced in recent political violence. |
| But he says there is evidence that there has been violence, particularly in rural areas - something the MDC accuses the government of orchestrating in a bid to intimidate opposition voters in the lead-up to a possible run-off. | But he says there is evidence that there has been violence, particularly in rural areas - something the MDC accuses the government of orchestrating in a bid to intimidate opposition voters in the lead-up to a possible run-off. |
| The New York-based Human Rights Watch on Saturday accused Zanu-PF of "using a network of informal detention centres to beat, torture, and intimidate opposition activists and ordinary Zimbabweans". | The New York-based Human Rights Watch on Saturday accused Zanu-PF of "using a network of informal detention centres to beat, torture, and intimidate opposition activists and ordinary Zimbabweans". |
| South African dock workers last week refused to unload a Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe, and a South African court barred its cargo from being transported overland to the border. | South African dock workers last week refused to unload a Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe, and a South African court barred its cargo from being transported overland to the border. |
| UN effort | UN effort |
| On Sunday the 53-member African Union urged Zimbabwe to release the election results "without any further delay", and called for restraint from all parties. | On Sunday the 53-member African Union urged Zimbabwe to release the election results "without any further delay", and called for restraint from all parties. |
| Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would discuss "how to get developments there back to normal" with a number of African leaders on the sidelines of a UN summit in Ghana. | Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would discuss "how to get developments there back to normal" with a number of African leaders on the sidelines of a UN summit in Ghana. |
| Kofi Annan, his predecessor, has also urged African leaders to do more to address the crisis. | Kofi Annan, his predecessor, has also urged African leaders to do more to address the crisis. |
| The alarm bells are getting louder but so far they show little sign of making any difference in Zimbabwe, our correspondent says. | The alarm bells are getting louder but so far they show little sign of making any difference in Zimbabwe, our correspondent says. |
| Few African heads of state are attending the UN summit in Ghana and it will not be a priority at a conference of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), currently taking place in Mauritius. | Few African heads of state are attending the UN summit in Ghana and it will not be a priority at a conference of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), currently taking place in Mauritius. |