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Tsvangirai warns Mugabe over poll Tsvangirai warns Mugabe over poll
(40 minutes later)
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has issued a final warning to President Robert Mugabe ahead of Friday's run-off presidential poll.Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has issued a final warning to President Robert Mugabe ahead of Friday's run-off presidential poll.
Speaking to the UK's Times newspaper, Mr Tsvangirai said the time for negotiations would be over if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the vote.Speaking to the UK's Times newspaper, Mr Tsvangirai said the time for negotiations would be over if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the vote.
On Wednesday, former South African leader Nelson Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a "failure of leadership".On Wednesday, former South African leader Nelson Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a "failure of leadership".
Southern African leaders have called for the run-off to be postponed.Southern African leaders have called for the run-off to be postponed.
The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election.The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election.
Nelson Mandela makes his first public remarks criticising Robert Mugabe Nelson Mandela makes his first public remarks criticising Zimbabwe's leaders
Mr Tsvangirai, who has pulled out of the run-off over fears of increasing political violence, has called for foreign help to end the crisis. Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off over fears of increasing political violence and has called for foreign help to end the crisis.
Mr Mugabe has said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone" but only after Friday's elections. Mr Mugabe, who will address his final campaign rally on Thursday, said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone" but only after the vote.
'Illegitimate president''Illegitimate president'
Speaking to The Times by telephone, Mr Tsvangirai said negotiations between his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling Zanu-PF would be over if Mr Mugabe declared himself the winner of the vote.Speaking to The Times by telephone, Mr Tsvangirai said negotiations between his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling Zanu-PF would be over if Mr Mugabe declared himself the winner of the vote.
"How can you call yourself an elected president? You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate president," he said of Mr Mugabe."How can you call yourself an elected president? You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate president," he said of Mr Mugabe.
I am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process Morgan Tsvangirai Harare diary: Shell-shockedCan Sadc solve Zimbabwe's crisis?Mugabe stripped of knighthoodI am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process Morgan Tsvangirai Harare diary: Shell-shockedCan Sadc solve Zimbabwe's crisis?Mugabe stripped of knighthood
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party. The government blames the MDC for the violence. Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.
Mr Tsvangirai said he withdrew from the election on Sunday over fears for the lives of his supporters, and because the poll could not be free or fair. Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF.
The government and Zimbabwe's election authority insist Friday's vote will go ahead because Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal came too late to prevent his name appearing on the ballot paper and was therefore invalid. The government blames the MDC for the violence.
Mr Mugabe officially came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round in March. Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late.
Diplomacy criticisedDiplomacy criticised
Speaking at a dinner in London to mark his 90th birthday, Mr Mandela said: "We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we have seen... the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe."Speaking at a dinner in London to mark his 90th birthday, Mr Mandela said: "We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we have seen... the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe."
Mr Mandela had held his silence until now, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, to avoid undermining South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki's efforts as chief mediator on Zimbabwe.Mr Mandela had held his silence until now, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, to avoid undermining South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki's efforts as chief mediator on Zimbabwe.
Mr Mbeki's policy of "quiet diplomacy" has been criticised for its failure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.Mr Mbeki's policy of "quiet diplomacy" has been criticised for its failure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Nelson Mandela spoke few words but they will carry immense weight simply because of who he is, says our correspondent.Nelson Mandela spoke few words but they will carry immense weight simply because of who he is, says our correspondent.
The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.
The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.
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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