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Zimbabwe opposition to pull out | Zimbabwe opposition to pull out |
(20 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has decided to pull out of the presidential run-off on 27 June, party officials have told the BBC. | |
The decision, taken at a meeting of the leadership of the Movement for Democratic Change in Harare, means Robert Mugabe will remain as president. | |
The MDC says the decision comes after at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in the run-up to the poll. | |
President Robert Mugabe says the opposition is behind the violence. | |
On Sunday, the opposition was due to stage a rally in the capital - the highlight of the campaign. | |
But supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF occupied the stadium and roads leading up to it - and reportedly beat up opposition activists. | |
Unity government? | |
The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright during the first round in March. | |
The government says he won more votes than President Mugabe, but not enough to win outright. | |
Mr Mugabe has said he will never accept a Zimbabwe run by the MDC. | Mr Mugabe has said he will never accept a Zimbabwe run by the MDC. |
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. | 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 was possibly a last 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | Zimbabwe's other immediate neighbours have also added their voices to increasing international concern over the validity of the run-off. |