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Tsvangirai gets safety assurances Tsvangirai gets safety assurances
(30 minutes later)
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will leave the Dutch embassy in Harare in the next 48 hours.Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will leave the Dutch embassy in Harare in the next 48 hours.
He was speaking to Dutch radio from the embassy, where he took refuge on Sunday night after pulling out of a run-off election, citing widespread violence.He was speaking to Dutch radio from the embassy, where he took refuge on Sunday night after pulling out of a run-off election, citing widespread violence.
He said the Dutch ambassador had received assurances from Zimbabwean authorities about his safety.He said the Dutch ambassador had received assurances from Zimbabwean authorities about his safety.
Meanwhile, an African election observer told the BBC torture was "the order of the day" in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, South Africa's governing ANC said it was deeply dismayed by the situation in Zimbabwe.
The monitor, who does not want to be named, interviewed opposition supporters in hospital and found that "everyone was utterly terrified". The party accused the Zimbabwean government of riding roughshod over hard-won democratic rights.
BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says this is the strongest statement on Zimbabwe so far by the ANC.
'Acting irrationally''Acting irrationally'
Mr Tsvangirai told Dutch public broadcaster Radio 1 he hoped Zimbabwe's government would honour assurances about his safety it had offered the Netherlands ambassador.Mr Tsvangirai told Dutch public broadcaster Radio 1 he hoped Zimbabwe's government would honour assurances about his safety it had offered the Netherlands ambassador.
Morgan Tsvangirai, has been completely outmanoeuvred... The outside world, which mostly sympathises with him, can do nothing whatever to help him John Simpson, in Harare Mugabe's remarkable comeback Zimbabwe awaits day of reckoningBloggers bemoan Tsvangira pull-out Morgan Tsvangirai, has been completely outmanoeuvred... The outside world, which mostly sympathises with him, can do nothing whatever to help him John Simpson, in Harare Mugabe's remarkable comeback Zimbabwe awaits day of reckoningBloggers regret Tsvangirai pull-out
He said: "I hope that they mean what they say. This is a regime which is acting irrationally."He said: "I hope that they mean what they say. This is a regime which is acting irrationally."
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, in a statement about his attempts to mediate in the Zimbabwean crisis, said Mr Tsvangirai had been fleeing soldiers when he took refuge at the embassy in Harare.Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, in a statement about his attempts to mediate in the Zimbabwean crisis, said Mr Tsvangirai had been fleeing soldiers when he took refuge at the embassy in Harare.
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, who is in Harare, says critics of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader have been lambasting him for seeking refuge in a European embassy, rather than an African one.BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, who is in Harare, says critics of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader have been lambasting him for seeking refuge in a European embassy, rather than an African one.
He says few people in Zimbabwe know that Mr Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the race, because official media barely ever mention him.He says few people in Zimbabwe know that Mr Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the race, because official media barely ever mention him.
'Cry baby''Cry baby'
He adds that Mr Mugabe is on course for a remarkable victory, when only three months ago he seemed to be on the ropes.He adds that Mr Mugabe is on course for a remarkable victory, when only three months ago he seemed to be on the ropes.

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.
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Zimbabwe's Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, labelled Mr Tsvangirai's move to the Dutch embassy as an "exhibitionist antic", intended to provoke international anger.Zimbabwe's Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, labelled Mr Tsvangirai's move to the Dutch embassy as an "exhibitionist antic", intended to provoke international anger.
He said Mr Tsvangirai, who was briefly detained on five separate occasions during recent election campaigning, had been making a desperate attempt to besmirch the vote.He said Mr Tsvangirai, who was briefly detained on five separate occasions during recent election campaigning, had been making a desperate attempt to besmirch the vote.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's UN ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku told the BBC's Network Africa programme Mr Tsvangirai had never been prevented from campaigning.Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's UN ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku told the BBC's Network Africa programme Mr Tsvangirai had never been prevented from campaigning.
"He's a cry baby... He has been free to move wherever he wanted to move," he said."He's a cry baby... He has been free to move wherever he wanted to move," he said.
In other developments on Tuesday:In other developments on Tuesday:
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  • South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma said the situation in Zimbabwe was "out of control" and called for urgent intervention by the UN and the regional Sadc grouping
  • President Robert Mugabe, quoted by the pro-government Herald newspaper, accused Western countries of "telling a lot of lies about Zimbabwe" in order to justify an intervention
  • Former UN High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown, a British politician, warned Zimbabwe's violence could descend into genocide like that in Rwanda in 1994
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    • President Robert Mugabe, quoted by the pro-government Herald newspaper, accused Western countries of "telling a lot of lies about Zimbabwe" in order to justify an intervention
    • Former UN High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown, a British politician, warned Zimbabwe's violence could descend into genocide like that in Rwanda in 1994
    • An African election observer, who does not want to be named, told the BBC torture was "the order of the day" in Zimbabwe
    On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed that a free and fair vote on Friday would be "impossible".On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed that a free and fair vote on Friday would be "impossible".
    The British-drafted statement was toned down from an earlier version but was the first time South Africa, Russia and China had agreed to criticise Mr Mugabe's government.The British-drafted statement was toned down from an earlier version but was the first time South Africa, Russia and China had agreed to criticise Mr Mugabe's government.
    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called on Zimbabwe to postpone the presidential run-off.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called on Zimbabwe to postpone the presidential run-off.
    Also on Monday, more than 60 MDC supporters were arrested at the party's Harare headquarters.
    The opposition says some 86 supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by Zanu-PF militias but the ruling party blames the MDC for the violence.The opposition says some 86 supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by Zanu-PF militias but the ruling party blames the MDC for the violence.
    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.
    Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what's 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? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what's 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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