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| Zimbabwe armed men threaten rally | Zimbabwe armed men threaten rally |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of supporters of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe have occupied a stadium in the capital, Harare, where the opposition had planned a key rally. | Hundreds of supporters of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe have occupied a stadium in the capital, Harare, where the opposition had planned a key rally. |
| Zanu-PF men, armed with clubs and stones, are patrolling streets leading to the Glamis stadium, witnesses say. | |
| A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change said it still planned to go ahead with the rally. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was due to attend. | A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change said it still planned to go ahead with the rally. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was due to attend. |
| The MDC says it will decide by Monday on whether to contest run-off vote. | The MDC says it will decide by Monday on whether to contest run-off vote. |
| It says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in the run-up to the 27 June vote, which will see Mr Tsvangirai challenge Mr Mugabe. | It says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in the run-up to the 27 June vote, which will see Mr Tsvangirai challenge Mr Mugabe. |
| The MDC is due to meet on Sunday to discuss its possible withdrawal from the vote. | |
| "We have to evaluate whether it is worth spilling blood in the name of an election" MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Reuters news agency. | |
| Violence feared | |
| Sunday's rally was due to go ahead after the High Court on Saturday overturned a police ban. According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of Zanu-PF youth militia have thronged the streets around the Glamis stadium, while hundreds more are inside. | |
| Carrying clubs, sticks and stones, they have been stopping cars, demanding people sing party slogans and in some cases show party cards. | |
| Uniformed riot police - and observers from the South African Development Community - are on the scene. | |
| The opposition rally had been due to begin around noon local time - and the party says it is determined to go ahead. | |
| Morgan Tsvangirai say he won the vote outright in March | |
| However a party spokesman told the BBC that given the large numbers of armed Zanu-PF supporters in and around the stadium, violence is likely. | However a party spokesman told the BBC that given the large numbers of armed Zanu-PF supporters in and around the stadium, violence is likely. |
| On Saturday, South Africa sent two mediators to Harare, just days after its President, Thabo Mbeki, went to Zimbabwe himself, for separate talks with Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. | |
| The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says this is possibly a last ditch effort to persuade Mr Mugabe to cancel the election run-off, and to persuade both sides to begin negotiations on a government of national unity. | |
| It is widely accepted that in the present circumstances, with serious political violence, the election will not resolve Zimbabwe's problems, our correspondent adds. | |
| The MDC says its members have been beaten, and its supporters evicted from their homes, forcing it to campaign in near secrecy. | |
| The party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, is under arrest charged with treason. | |
| Mr Mugabe has accused the MDC of acting in the interest of Britain, the former colonial power, and other Western countries. | |
| Zimbabwe's other immediate neighbours have also added their voices to increasing international concern over the validity of the run-off. | |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us what is happening where you are 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? Tell us what is happening where you are 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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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |