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| UN: Free Zimbabwe poll impossible | UN: Free Zimbabwe poll impossible |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation against Zimbabwe's opposition party. | The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation against Zimbabwe's opposition party. |
| In a statement, the 15-member body said a free and fair presidential run-off vote on Friday would be "impossible". | In a statement, the 15-member body said a free and fair presidential run-off vote on Friday would be "impossible". |
| Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the election and taken refuge in the Dutch embassy in the capital, Harare. | Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the election and taken refuge in the Dutch embassy in the capital, Harare. |
| UN chief Ban Ki-moon earlier said the vote should be delayed, but Zimbabwe's UN envoy insisted it would go ahead. | UN chief Ban Ki-moon earlier said the vote should be delayed, but Zimbabwe's UN envoy insisted it would go ahead. |
| The British-drafted UN statement is much-watered down from an earlier draft version, but it is the first time that South Africa, Russia and China have agreed to criticise Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's government. | |
| "The Security Council condemns the campaign of violence against the political opposition," it says. | |
| It continues by saying that the campaign "has resulted in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans, and the beating and displacement of thousands of people, including many women and children. | |
ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS | ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS |
| Zimbabwe's opposition is hoping neighbouring countries will put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to step down. In the past they supported him. How are relations now? | Zimbabwe's opposition is hoping neighbouring countries will put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to step down. In the past they supported him. How are relations now? |
| South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line. | South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line. |
| Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. He says Zimbabwe is a regional "embarrassment". | Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. He says Zimbabwe is a regional "embarrassment". |
| Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies - they fought colonialism together in the 1970s. He has urged Mr Mugabe to stop the violence. | Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies - they fought colonialism together in the 1970s. He has urged Mr Mugabe to stop the violence. |
| Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about the political violence. It has been supportive of Zimbabwe's opposition. | Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about the political violence. It has been supportive of Zimbabwe's opposition. |
| Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it, too, is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the election violence. | Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it, too, is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the election violence. |
| Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition. | Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition. |
| Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and its foreign minister has condemned the violence. | Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and its foreign minister has condemned the violence. |
| DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. | DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. |
| Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were often assaulted during farm invasions. | Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were often assaulted during farm invasions. |
| BACKNEXT1 of 9 | BACKNEXT1 of 9 |
| "The Security Council regrets that the campaign of violence and the restrictions on the political opposition have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place on 27 June." | "The Security Council regrets that the campaign of violence and the restrictions on the political opposition have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place on 27 June." |
| The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad said the Security Council was sending a strong message to Robert Mugabe. | |
| "We were able to get a unanimous statement, sending a clear message that we all want to help the people of Zimbabwe, that were is a need for establishing a legitimate order," he said. | |
| Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN said the vote would go ahead as planned. | Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN said the vote would go ahead as planned. |
| "As far we are concerned, the election will take place on Friday," Boniface Chidyausiku said. "The legitimacy of any election comes from the people of Zimbabwe. | "As far we are concerned, the election will take place on Friday," Boniface Chidyausiku said. "The legitimacy of any election comes from the people of Zimbabwe. |
| "Should the people of Zimbabwe decide, whoever they elect, that's their sovereign right and there is nobody who can say: 'You have made the wrong decision - you should've elected another candidate.'" | "Should the people of Zimbabwe decide, whoever they elect, that's their sovereign right and there is nobody who can say: 'You have made the wrong decision - you should've elected another candidate.'" |
| 'Challenge to stability' | 'Challenge to stability' |
| Earlier, UN Secretary General Mr Ban called on Zimbabwe to postpone the run-off election. | Earlier, UN Secretary General Mr Ban called on Zimbabwe to postpone the run-off election. |
| He said holding the vote as scheduled would only "deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible". | He said holding the vote as scheduled would only "deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible". |
| President Mugabe blames the opposition for the election violence | President Mugabe blames the opposition for the election violence |
| He said: "Conditions do not exist for free and fair elections right now in Zimbabwe. There has been too much violence, too much intimidation." | He said: "Conditions do not exist for free and fair elections right now in Zimbabwe. There has been too much violence, too much intimidation." |
| He said he had discussed the issues with a number of African leaders, and advised President Mugabe to postpone the election until the right conditions were in place for people to vote freely and fairly. | |
| Mr Ban added that what happened in Zimbabwe had significance beyond its borders and was the "single greatest challenge to regional stability". | Mr Ban added that what happened in Zimbabwe had significance beyond its borders and was the "single greatest challenge to regional stability". |
| Mr Tsvangirai has been spending a second night in the Dutch embassy in the capital Harare. | Mr Tsvangirai has been spending a second night in the Dutch embassy in the capital Harare. |
| A Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader feared for his safety, but had not requested asylum. | |
| Zimbabwe's head of police, however, said Mr Tsvangirai was not in any danger. | Zimbabwe's head of police, however, said Mr Tsvangirai was not in any danger. |
| On Monday, more than 60 MDC supporters were arrested at its Harare headquarters. | On Monday, more than 60 MDC supporters were arrested at its Harare headquarters. |
| The BBC's John Simpson in Harare says few people in Zimbabwe even know that Mr Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the race, because the country's official media mention him and his party as little as possible. | |
| Mediation efforts | Mediation efforts |
| The MDC won the parliamentary vote in March, and claims to have won the first round of the presidential contest outright. According to official results, Mr Tsvangirai was ahead of Mr Mugabe but failed to gain enough votes to avoid a run-off. | The MDC won the parliamentary vote in March, and claims to have won the first round of the presidential contest outright. According to official results, Mr Tsvangirai was ahead of Mr Mugabe but failed to gain enough votes to avoid a run-off. |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki has been leading efforts by Zimbabwe's neighbours in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to mediate an end to the crisis. | South African President Thabo Mbeki has been leading efforts by Zimbabwe's neighbours in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to mediate an end to the crisis. |
| Mr Mbeki is reported to be trying to arrange a meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai for talks on cancelling the election run-off and forming a government of national unity. | Mr Mbeki is reported to be trying to arrange a meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai for talks on cancelling the election run-off and forming a government of national unity. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has said pressure from the UN and Sadc could force Mr Mugabe to give up power. | Mr Tsvangirai has said pressure from the UN and Sadc could force Mr Mugabe to give up power. |
| "My assessment is that if there is a collective position by all Sadc leaders, that would be sufficient pressure - that voice is essential," he told US National Public Radio. | "My assessment is that if there is a collective position by all Sadc leaders, that would be sufficient pressure - that voice is essential," he told US National Public Radio. |
| Mr Mugabe has hit back at his international critics, accusing Western countries of lying about Zimbabwe in order to justify an intervention. | Mr Mugabe has hit back at his international critics, accusing Western countries of lying about Zimbabwe in order to justify an intervention. |
| "Britain and her allies are telling a lot of lies about Zimbabwe, saying a lot of people are dying," the pro-government Herald newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe as saying. | "Britain and her allies are telling a lot of lies about Zimbabwe, saying a lot of people are dying," the pro-government Herald newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe as saying. |
| "These are all lies because they want to build a situation to justify their intervention in Zimbabwe." | "These are all lies because they want to build a situation to justify their intervention in Zimbabwe." |