This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7467990.stm
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe rival quits election race | Mugabe rival quits election race |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of Friday's presidential run-off, handing victory to President Robert Mugabe. | Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of Friday's presidential run-off, handing victory to President Robert Mugabe. |
| Mr Tsvangirai said there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself". | Mr Tsvangirai said there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself". |
| He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide". | He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide". |
| But the ruling Zanu-PF said Mr Tsvangirai had taken the decision to avoid "humiliation" in the poll. | But the ruling Zanu-PF said Mr Tsvangirai had taken the decision to avoid "humiliation" in the poll. |
| The opposition decision came after its supporters, heading to a rally in the capital Harare, came under attack. | The opposition decision came after its supporters, heading to a rally in the capital Harare, came under attack. |
| The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says at least 70 supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by ruling party militias. | |
| KEY POLL COMPLAINTS Violence: 75 killed, 200,000 displacedMDC rallies bannedMDC leaders arrested, harassedFood aid not given to opposition areasState media refused MDC adverts Zanu-PF supporters to be used as election officials> class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7468181.stm">Day of drama in Harare class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7468091.stm">Tsvangirai withdrawal: Key quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7463293.stm">Zimbabwe poll: Key complaints | |
| At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on 27 June, when that vote could cost them their lives." | At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on 27 June, when that vote could cost them their lives." |
| "We have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process." | "We have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process." |
| "We will not play the game of Mugabe," he added. | "We will not play the game of Mugabe," he added. |
| He called on the United Nations, African Union and the southern African grouping SADC to intervene to prevent a "genocide" in Zimbabwe. | He called on the United Nations, African Union and the southern African grouping SADC to intervene to prevent a "genocide" in Zimbabwe. |
| Tsvangirai quits election race | Tsvangirai quits election race |
| Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai pulled out the vote because he faced "humiliation and defeat" at the hands of President Mugabe, who he said would win "resoundingly". | Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai pulled out the vote because he faced "humiliation and defeat" at the hands of President Mugabe, who he said would win "resoundingly". |
| "Unfortunately," he said, the opposition leader's decision was "depriving the people of Zimbabwe of a vote". | "Unfortunately," he said, the opposition leader's decision was "depriving the people of Zimbabwe of a vote". |
| Rally blocked | Rally blocked |
| BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the key question now is what Thabo Mbeki, president of Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour South Africa, will do. | BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the key question now is what Thabo Mbeki, president of Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour South Africa, will do. |
| He is in the best position to step up the pressure on Mr Mugabe, since Zimbabwe is so economically dependent on South Africa, our analyst says. | He is in the best position to step up the pressure on Mr Mugabe, since Zimbabwe is so economically dependent on South Africa, our analyst says. |
| Some opposition supporters at the rally were captured and beaten | Some opposition supporters at the rally were captured and beaten |
| South Africa immediately responded to the news by calling on the MDC to continue talks to try to find a political solution. | South Africa immediately responded to the news by calling on the MDC to continue talks to try to find a political solution. |
| "We are very encouraged that Mr Tsvangirai, himself, says he is not closing the door completely on negotiations," said a spokesman for Mr Mbeki. | "We are very encouraged that Mr Tsvangirai, himself, says he is not closing the door completely on negotiations," said a spokesman for Mr Mbeki. |
| On Sunday, the MDC was due to stage a rally in Harare - the highlight of the campaign. | On Sunday, the MDC was due to stage a rally in Harare - the highlight of the campaign. |
| But supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF occupied the stadium venue and roads leading up to it. | But supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF occupied the stadium venue and roads leading up to it. |
| Witnesses reported seeing hundreds of youths around the venue wielding sticks, some chanting slogans, and others circling the stadium crammed onto the backs of trucks. | Witnesses reported seeing hundreds of youths around the venue wielding sticks, some chanting slogans, and others circling the stadium crammed onto the backs of trucks. |
| Some set upon opposition activists, leaving a number badly injured, the MDC said. | Some set upon opposition activists, leaving a number badly injured, the MDC said. |
| Mugabe will remain unopposed to seek revenge and retribution on all who stood for democracy and change Sam, St Lucia MDC pull-out: Have your sayProfile: Morgan Tsvangirai | |
| It said African election monitors were also chased away from the rally site. | It said African election monitors were also chased away from the rally site. |
| The United States reacted to Sunday's developments by saying: "The government of Zimbabwe and its thugs must stop the violence now." | The United States reacted to Sunday's developments by saying: "The government of Zimbabwe and its thugs must stop the violence now." |
| Beatings and arrests | Beatings and arrests |
| The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright during the first round in March. | The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright during the first round in March. |
| The government admits he won more votes than President Mugabe, but says he did not take enough to win outright. | The government admits he won more votes than President Mugabe, but says he did not take enough to win outright. |
| But in recent weeks, as the run-off approached, the MDC said it had found campaigning near impossible. | But in recent weeks, as the run-off approached, the MDC said it had found campaigning near impossible. |
| Its members have been beaten, and its supporters evicted from their homes, forcing it to campaign in near secrecy. | Its members have been beaten, and its supporters evicted from their homes, forcing it to campaign in near secrecy. |
| Mr Tsvangirai was arrested several times, and the party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, has been held and charged with treason. | Mr Tsvangirai was arrested several times, and the party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, has been held and charged with treason. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says Mr Mugabe has made clear he will never relinquish power, saying only God could remove him. | The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says Mr Mugabe has made clear he will never relinquish power, saying only God could remove him. |
| While Mr Tsvangirai's move will hand victory to Mr Mugabe, it is unclear whether the international community or election observers will confer any legitimacy on the process, our correspondent says. | While Mr Tsvangirai's move will hand victory to Mr Mugabe, it is unclear whether the international community or election observers will confer any legitimacy on the process, our correspondent says. |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you agree with the MDC's decision? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you agree with the MDC's decision? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |