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| MDC ponders Zimbabwe poll pullout | MDC ponders Zimbabwe poll pullout |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's opposition MDC will announce on Monday whether the party will withdraw from the 27 June presidential run-off, a party source told the BBC. | Zimbabwe's opposition MDC will announce on Monday whether the party will withdraw from the 27 June presidential run-off, a party source told the BBC. |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating poll-related violence. | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating poll-related violence. |
| The MDC says dozens of its supporters have been killed but President Robert Mugabe blames the MDC for the violence. | The MDC says dozens of its supporters have been killed but President Robert Mugabe blames the MDC for the violence. |
| A withdrawal threat could be a move to pressure the international community to ensure a fair vote, say correspondents. | A withdrawal threat could be a move to pressure the international community to ensure a fair vote, say correspondents. |
| A meeting of senior MDC officials in Harare has revealed "differences of opinion" within the party over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC. | A meeting of senior MDC officials in Harare has revealed "differences of opinion" within the party over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC. |
| He said the party needed to assess the situation in the country and unless conditions changed the vote would be a "charade". | He said the party needed to assess the situation in the country and unless conditions changed the vote would be a "charade". |
| The report we received still indicates that violence is escalating throughout Zimbabwe Bernard MembeTanzanian foreign minister href="/1/hi/talking_point/7462721.stm">Your questions answered class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7465101.stm">'Raped for opposing Mugabe'Send us your comments | |
| If it does pull out, the MDC would be handing victory to Robert Mugabe, making it a tricky decision to take, says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Johannesburg, South Africa. | If it does pull out, the MDC would be handing victory to Robert Mugabe, making it a tricky decision to take, says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| However, Mr Tsvangirai's potential withdrawal from the election can be seen as a move to put pressure on the international community to do more to try to ensure a free and fair election, says our correspondent. | However, Mr Tsvangirai's potential withdrawal from the election can be seen as a move to put pressure on the international community to do more to try to ensure a free and fair election, says our correspondent. |
| Treason charge | Treason charge |
| Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in the election's first round, but not enough to win outright. | Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in the election's first round, but not enough to win outright. |
| The MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in recent weeks and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence. | The MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in recent weeks and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence. |
| One of its top leaders, Tendai Biti, has also been charged with treason and subversion. | One of its top leaders, Tendai Biti, has also been charged with treason and subversion. |
| A Harare court has refused to dismiss the charges, saying there is reasonable suspicion that Mr Biti committed an offence, and remanded the case to 7 July. | A Harare court has refused to dismiss the charges, saying there is reasonable suspicion that Mr Biti committed an offence, and remanded the case to 7 July. |
| The charges carry a possible death sentence. | |
| MDC rallies have also been disrupted and Mr Tsvangirai briefly detained by police on several occasions. | MDC rallies have also been disrupted and Mr Tsvangirai briefly detained by police on several occasions. |
| Economic freefall | Economic freefall |
| There has been growing international condemnation, including from some of Zimbabwe's neighbours, of the pre-election climate in the country. | There has been growing international condemnation, including from some of Zimbabwe's neighbours, of the pre-election climate in the country. |
| Three countries from the South African Development Community (SADC) monitoring the polls - Tanzania, Angola and Swaziland - said the election would not be free and fair given the current circumstances. | Three countries from the South African Development Community (SADC) monitoring the polls - Tanzania, Angola and Swaziland - said the election would not be free and fair given the current circumstances. |
| Robert Mugabe Zanu-PF blames the opposition for the violence | Robert Mugabe Zanu-PF blames the opposition for the violence |
| "The report we received still indicates that violence is escalating throughout Zimbabwe," Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe told the BBC. | "The report we received still indicates that violence is escalating throughout Zimbabwe," Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe told the BBC. |
| Meanwhile in Brussels, the EU has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready "to take additional measures against those responsible for violence". | Meanwhile in Brussels, the EU has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready "to take additional measures against those responsible for violence". |
| The EU document does not state what the additional measures might be. | The EU document does not state what the additional measures might be. |
| The EU already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and has placed travel bans on and frozen the assets of President Mugabe and other senior government and ruling Zanu-PF party officials. | The EU already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and has placed travel bans on and frozen the assets of President Mugabe and other senior government and ruling Zanu-PF party officials. |
| Mr Mugabe blames the sanctions for causing Zimbabwe's economic freefall. | Mr Mugabe blames the sanctions for causing Zimbabwe's economic freefall. |
| The EU statement urged the African Union and SADC to deploy "a significant number of election monitors as soon as possible and to ensure their continued presence until the electoral process is completed". | The EU statement urged the African Union and SADC to deploy "a significant number of election monitors as soon as possible and to ensure their continued presence until the electoral process is completed". |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said violence from Zanu-PF supporters meant the run-off would not be free and fair. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said violence from Zanu-PF supporters meant the run-off would not be free and fair. |