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Mugabe condemns opposition 'lies' Mugabe condemns opposition 'lies'
(about 5 hours 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 told supporters that "only God" could remove him from office.
The MDC is due to decide on Monday whether to contest the run-off. Meanwhile the opposition MDC says a court has overturned a police ban on a major rally on Sunday in Harare.
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. Opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, planned to attend the event.
"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. Police have banned a series of opposition gatherings, leading the MDC to say it was being forced to campaign in virtual secrecy.
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 commentsAll 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." Mr Mugabe told supporters at a campaign rally in the southern city of Bulawayo on Friday that he would "never allow an event like an election to reverse our independence, our sovereignty."
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. "Only God who appointed me will remove me - not the MDC, not the British," he said.
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. 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.
Mr Mugabe has accused the MDC of acting in the interest of Britain, the former colonial power, and other Western countries.
He was also 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.
IntimidationIntimidation
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."
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Zanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare townshipZanu-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. Mr 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".
Nigerian Nobel-winning writer Wole Soyinka told the BBC that Mr Mugabe had ruined Zimbabwe with a "scorched earth policy" and that Zimbabweans were primed to "throw off this yoke by all means necessary".Nigerian Nobel-winning writer Wole Soyinka told the BBC that Mr Mugabe had ruined Zimbabwe with a "scorched earth policy" and that Zimbabweans were primed to "throw off this yoke by all means necessary".
'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 threatenedA 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.
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