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Mugabe rival quits election race Mugabe rival quits election race
(40 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 protect Zimbabweans. He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide".
The decision came after opposition supporters heading to a rally in the capital Harare came under attack. 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 Movement for Democratic Change says at least 70 supporters have been killed in recent months.The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says at least 70 supporters have been killed in recent months.
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 say 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 say class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7468091.stm">Tsvangirai withdrawal: Key quotes
At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process."At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC 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 and African Union 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.
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".
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.
Rally blocked
On Sunday, the MDC was due to stage a rally in Harare - the highlight of the campaign.
Some opposition supporters at the rally were captured and beatenSome 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.
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.
They reportedly set upon opposition activists, leaving a number badly injured. Some set upon opposition activists, leaving a number badly injured, the MDC said.
The MDC 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.
Unity government? 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.
Mr Mugabe has said he will never accept a Zimbabwe run by the MDC. Robert Mugabe has said only God will remove him from power Robert Mugabe has said only God will remove him from power
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. But in recent weeks, as the run-off approached, the MDC said it had found campaigning near impossible.
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. Its members have been beaten, and its supporters evicted from their homes, forcing it to campaign in near secrecy.
It is widely accepted that in the present circumstances, with serious political violence, the election will not resolve Zimbabwe's problems, our correspondent adds. Mr Tsvangirai was arrested several times, and the party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, has been held and charged with treason.
The MDC says its members have been beaten, and its supporters evicted from their homes, forcing it to campaign in near secrecy. 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 party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, is under arrest charged with treason. 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.
Mr Mugabe has accused the MDC of acting in the interest of Britain, the former colonial power, and other Western countries.
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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? 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.
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