A top UN official is due in Zimbabwe for a five-day visit ahead of the presidential run-off, which continues to be marred by political violence.
A top UN official is due in Zimbabwe for a five-day visit ahead of the presidential run-off, which continues to be marred by political violence.
Haile Menkerios is expected to meet politicians to discuss the situation in the run-up to the 27 June vote.
Haile Menkerios is expected to meet politicians to discuss the situation in the run-up to the 27 June vote.
Violence is reported to have spread to urban areas near Harare, with opposition activists complaining of being attacked near the city.
Violence is reported to have spread to urban areas near Harare, with opposition activists complaining of being attacked near the city.
And a top opposition figure is expected in court to face treason charges.
And a top opposition figure is expected in court to face treason charges.
Tendai Biti, secretary-general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was arrested when he returned from neighbouring South Africa on Thursday.
Tendai Biti, secretary-general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was arrested when he returned from neighbouring South Africa on Thursday.
At the time of his arrest, national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Mr Biti would be charged with treason "for publishing a document that was explaining a transitional strategy around March 26".
At the time of his arrest, national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Mr Biti would be charged with treason "for publishing a document that was explaining a transitional strategy around March 26".
The charges carry a possible death sentence.
The charges carry a possible death sentence.
'War' claim
'War' claim
The area around Harare had been largely quiet while violence flared in rural districts.
UN officials said Mr Menkerios, the body's assistant secretary-general for political affairs, would be in the country "for discussions on the political situation and the upcoming elections".
One opposition supporter told a local journalist he had been abducted and beaten by supporters of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF.
His visit - the first by a UN envoy since 2005 - comes after sustained pressure from foreign countries and opposition politicians on President Robert Mugabe to allow in international observers.
Earlier, Mr Mugabe vowed the main opposition party would never lead Zimbabwe and said he was prepared to "go to war" for his country.
Last week the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, released a strongly-worded statement on Mr Menkerios's visit.
Tendai Biti was arrested on his return to Zimbabwe from South Africa
"If [Mr Mugabe] does not co-operate with Mr Menkerios and the current trends continue, we will have to deal with it. And we'll deal with it as quickly as we can."
Political violence related to the presidential polls has swept the country in recent weeks, with thousands of people being displaced and dozens killed.
But it had been largely restricted to those rural areas which had switched their allegiance from Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party to the MDC.
Harare, traditionally an opposition stronghold, had remained relatively quiet.
However, at the weekend a local journalist reported there was a growing campaign of violence carried out by supporters of Zanu-PF in townships close to the capital.
Reporter Brian Hungwe said victims of the violence told him their houses were being burnt.
They had been forced into all night meetings at bases set up in their townships where they were warned about the dangers of voting against Mr Mugabe, he reported.
Earlier, the president had vowed the main opposition party would never lead Zimbabwe and said he was prepared to "go to war" for his country.
He is due to face MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-off poll.
He is due to face MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-off poll.
Mr Tsvangirai won the first presidential ballot, but failed to win enough votes for an overall majority. He has been briefly detained several times while campaigning for the run-off vote.
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Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.
