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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe condemns opposition 'lies' | Mugabe condemns opposition 'lies' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has accused the opposition of lying about political violence in the country to cast doubt on forthcoming polls. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has accused the opposition of lying about political violence in the country to cast doubt on forthcoming polls. |
| The opposition says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed and many more beaten in the run-up to next week's presidential run-off election. | The opposition says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed and many more beaten in the run-up to next week's presidential run-off election. |
| He also said the opposition MDC would never be allowed to run the country and that "only God" could remove him. | He also said the opposition MDC would never be allowed to run the country and that "only God" could remove him. |
| The MDC is due to decide on Monday whether to contest the run-off. | The MDC is due to decide on Monday whether to contest the run-off. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says President Mugabe has given another indication that he will not relinquish power as a result of a poll. | |
| "We will never allow an event like an election to reverse our independence, our sovereignty," Mr Mugabe told supporters at a campaign rally in the southern city of Bulawayo on Friday. | |
| All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence Augustine ChihuriPolice chief Your questions answered'Raped for opposing Mugabe'Send us your comments | All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence Augustine ChihuriPolice chief Your questions answered'Raped for opposing Mugabe'Send us your comments |
| "Only God who appointed me will remove me - not the MDC, not the British." | "Only God who appointed me will remove me - not the MDC, not the British." |
| Mr Mugabe repeated his accusation that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was acting in the interest of Britain, the former colonial power, and other Western countries. | |
| Later, he was quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper as saying that MDC leaders had been compiling names of people they say are victims of political violence. | Later, he was quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper as saying that MDC leaders had been compiling names of people they say are victims of political violence. |
| "They say this so that they can later say the elections were not free and fair. Which is a damn lie!" he said. | "They say this so that they can later say the elections were not free and fair. Which is a damn lie!" he said. |
| Intimidation | Intimidation |
| Mr Mugabe's police chief, Augustine Chihuri, has claimed that the MDC is the main culprit in the current political violence. | Mr Mugabe's police chief, Augustine Chihuri, has claimed that the MDC is the main culprit in the current political violence. |
| "All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence," he said. | "All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence," he said. |
| "This violence is aimed at intimidating people from voting." | "This violence is aimed at intimidating people from voting." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Zanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare township | Zanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare township |
| The MDC is to announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC. | The MDC is to announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC. |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who is due to face Mr Mugabe in the run-off - is reported to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence. | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who is due to face Mr Mugabe in the run-off - is reported to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence. |
| 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 added their voice to increasing international concern over the validity of the run-off. | Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours have added their voice to increasing international concern over the validity of the run-off. |
| On Friday Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, one of Mr Mugabe's closest allies, has urged him to stop the violence. | On Friday 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". |
| 'Charade' | 'Charade' |
| 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". |
| A former Zimbabwean police officer tells of how he was threatened | A former Zimbabwean police officer tells of how he was threatened |
| The EU already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and has placed travel bans on - and frozen the assets of - President Mugabe and 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 senior government and ruling Zanu-PF party officials. |
| 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. |
| 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 pro-government 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 pro-government militias. |
| 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. |