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| Mugabe defiant as MDC mulls poll | Mugabe defiant as MDC mulls poll |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says "only God" can remove him from office, as the opposition MDC considers pulling out from a presidential run-off vote. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says "only God" can remove him from office, as the opposition MDC considers pulling out from a presidential run-off vote. |
| "The MDC will never be allowed to rule this country," Mr Mugabe said at a rally in the city of Bulawayo. | "The MDC will never be allowed to rule this country," Mr Mugabe said at a rally in the city of Bulawayo. |
| The MDC will announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC. | The MDC will announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC. |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence. | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence. |
| The MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) says about 70 of its supporters have been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence since the first round of the presidential elections in March. | The MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) says about 70 of its supporters have been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence since the first round of the presidential elections in March. |
| We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty, our sweat and all that we fought for Robert MugabeZimbabwean President Your questions answered'Raped for opposing Mugabe'Send us your comments | We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty, our sweat and all that we fought for Robert MugabeZimbabwean President Your questions answered'Raped for opposing Mugabe'Send us your comments |
| New footage emerged on Friday, shot by US embassy staff, showing ruling party militias armed with sticks apparently hunting for MDC supporters in a township in the capital, Harare. | New footage emerged on Friday, shot by US embassy staff, showing ruling party militias armed with sticks apparently hunting for MDC supporters in a township in the capital, Harare. |
| Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours have voiced increasing concern over the validity of the run-off vote. | Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours have voiced increasing concern over the validity of the run-off vote. |
| Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, one of Mr Mugabe's closest allies, has urged him to stop the violence. | Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, one of Mr Mugabe's closest allies, has urged him to stop the violence. |
| Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, head of an election monitoring team, told the BBC earlier this week that violence appeared to be "escalating throughout Zimbabwe". | Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, head of an election monitoring team, told the BBC earlier this week that violence appeared to be "escalating throughout Zimbabwe". |
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| Zanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare township | |
| In Brussels, the European Union has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready to take unspecified "additional measures against those responsible for violence". | In Brussels, the European Union has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready to take unspecified "additional measures against those responsible for violence". |
| 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. |
| People are being abducted at night - our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror Nelson ChamisaMDC spokesman | People are being abducted at night - our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror Nelson ChamisaMDC spokesman |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also heavily critical of Zimbabwe's veteran leader: | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also heavily critical of Zimbabwe's veteran leader: |
| "Mugabe's increasingly desperate and isolated regime has unleashed still more violence. This is a blatant attempt to intimidate and to steal the election," he said. | "Mugabe's increasingly desperate and isolated regime has unleashed still more violence. This is a blatant attempt to intimidate and to steal the election," he said. |
| Mr Mugabe - who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 - blames Western sanctions for causing the country's economic freefall. | Mr Mugabe - who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 - blames Western sanctions for causing the country's economic freefall. |
| 'Charade' | 'Charade' |
| If the MDC does pull out, it will be handing victory to Mr Mugabe, making it a tricky decision to take, says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Johannesburg, South Africa. | If the MDC does pull out, it will be handing victory to Mr Mugabe, making it a tricky decision to take, says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| A former Zimbabean police officer tells of how he was threatened | |
| The MDC suffered at least five violent deaths of activists or their family members this week and its secretary general, Tendai Biti, was charged with treason and subversion. | The MDC suffered at least five violent deaths of activists or their family members this week and its secretary general, Tendai Biti, was charged with treason and subversion. |
| "Differences of opinion" have emerged among the party's senior officials over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC after the leadership met in Harare on Friday. | "Differences of opinion" have emerged among the party's senior officials over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC after the leadership met in Harare on Friday. |
| The party, he said, needed to assess the situation in the country but if conditions did not change, the vote would be a "charade". | The party, he said, needed to assess the situation in the country but if conditions did not change, the vote would be a "charade". |
| "We are assessing the situation as some areas are inaccessible," he added. | "We are assessing the situation as some areas are inaccessible," he added. |
| "People are being abducted at night. Our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror. Some of them are staying in the bushes and mountains to avoid Zanu-PF militias. | "People are being abducted at night. Our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror. Some of them are staying in the bushes and mountains to avoid Zanu-PF militias. |
| "Unless there's a change in conditions on the ground, the election will be a charade." | "Unless there's a change in conditions on the ground, the election will be a charade." |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published. | Are you in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published. |