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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe critic is released on bail | Mugabe critic is released on bail |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The secretary general of Zimbabwe's opposition party has been released on bail, a day before a controversial presidential poll run-off. | The secretary general of Zimbabwe's opposition party has been released on bail, a day before a controversial presidential poll run-off. |
| Tendai Biti, of the Movement for Democratic Change, had been detained on treason charges, which his party says are politically driven. | Tendai Biti, of the Movement for Democratic Change, had been detained on treason charges, which his party says are politically driven. |
| "It wasn't easy, but we have to continue fighting," Mr Biti told the BBC after his release. | "It wasn't easy, but we have to continue fighting," Mr Biti told the BBC after his release. |
| The MDC has withdrawn from Friday's poll over fears of political violence. | The MDC has withdrawn from Friday's poll over fears of political violence. |
| In his final campaign speech on Thursday, President Robert Mugabe repeated that he would be prepared to negotiate with the opposition after the election. | In his final campaign speech on Thursday, President Robert Mugabe repeated that he would be prepared to negotiate with the opposition after the election. |
| "Should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will, sure we won't be arrogant, we will be magnanimous and say 'let's sit down and talk,'" Mr Mugabe said, according to comments reported by AFP news agency. | "Should we emerge victorious, which I believe we will, sure we won't be arrogant, we will be magnanimous and say 'let's sit down and talk,'" Mr Mugabe said, according to comments reported by AFP news agency. |
| Earlier, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off. | Earlier, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off. |
| 'Illegitimate' | 'Illegitimate' |
| Mr Mugabe also said he would attend an African Union summit in Egypt next week. | Mr Mugabe also said he would attend an African Union summit in Egypt next week. |
| "I will be going there in Egypt and I understand there are some people who are daring themselves for an antagony with Zimbabwe," he told the rally. | "I will be going there in Egypt and I understand there are some people who are daring themselves for an antagony with Zimbabwe," he told the rally. |
| Southern African leaders have called on President Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition. | Southern African leaders have called on President Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition. |
| The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions would not permit a free and fair election on Friday. | The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions would not permit a free and fair election on Friday. |
| Speaking to the BBC, the head of the MDC said Zimbabwe's army was preparing to force people to vote in massive numbers for Mr Mugabe. | Speaking to the BBC, the head of the MDC said Zimbabwe's army was preparing to force people to vote in massive numbers for Mr Mugabe. |
| Mr Tsvangirai told his supporters to vote if necessary to avoid violent reprisals. "What difference does it make?" he said. "This government is illegitimate, it will remain so." | Mr Tsvangirai told his supporters to vote if necessary to avoid violent reprisals. "What difference does it make?" he said. "This government is illegitimate, it will remain so." |
| Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March. | Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March. |
| 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 blames the MDC for the violence. | 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 blames the MDC for the violence. |
| 'One-man show' | 'One-man show' |
| Mr Tsvangirai said it was clear that Mr Mugabe was self-destructing. | Mr Tsvangirai said it was clear that Mr Mugabe was self-destructing. |
| "He has remained in defiance of national and international opinion," he said. | "He has remained in defiance of national and international opinion," he said. |
| "He has run a one-man show; he wants to run a one-man race." | "He has run a one-man show; he wants to run a one-man race." |
| African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures | African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures |
| Mr Biti was arrested two weeks ago and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty. He has also been charged with publishing false statements and insulting the president. | Mr Biti was arrested two weeks ago and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty. He has also been charged with publishing false statements and insulting the president. |
| His bail was set at one trillion Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of about $200 (£100). | His bail was set at one trillion Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of about $200 (£100). |
| The court said that Mr Biti had to remain in his home, hand in his passport and the deeds to his house, and report once a week to a police station. | The court said that Mr Biti had to remain in his home, hand in his passport and the deeds to his house, and report once a week to a police station. |
| The court also said the state's evidence appeared to be weak at this stage. | The court also said the state's evidence appeared to be weak at this stage. |
| After his release, Mr Biti told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the prison reflected "the collapse of the state". | After his release, Mr Biti told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the prison reflected "the collapse of the state". |
| "People are dying there; people have no food; people have no blankets, so it's a depressing place - it really attacks your morale, your strength and so forth," he said. | "People are dying there; people have no food; people have no blankets, so it's a depressing place - it really attacks your morale, your strength and so forth," he said. |
| "So I'm just tired, but the struggle continues." | "So I'm just tired, but the struggle continues." |
| No postponement | No postponement |
| Earlier on Thursday, a senior Zanu-PF official rejected criticism of Zimbabwe's leadership by former South African President Nelson Mandela. | Earlier on Thursday, a senior Zanu-PF official rejected criticism of Zimbabwe's leadership by former South African President Nelson Mandela. |
| Mr Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a failure of leadership. | Mr Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a failure of leadership. |
| Speaking to the BBC, Jerome MacDonald Gumbo said Mr Mandela's statement was "very unfortunate" and "totally unacceptable". | Speaking to the BBC, Jerome MacDonald Gumbo said Mr Mandela's statement was "very unfortunate" and "totally unacceptable". |
| Robert Mugabe gave his final campaign speech in Harare on Thursday | Robert Mugabe gave his final campaign speech in Harare on Thursday |
| Asked whether the final round of the presidential vote would be postponed, he said: "There is no chance of that. There is no reason." | Asked whether the final round of the presidential vote would be postponed, he said: "There is no chance of that. There is no reason." |
| Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late. | Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late. |
| A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo said army chief-of-staff Major General Engelbert Rugeje told a rally that his soldiers would force members of the public to go and vote for Mr Mugabe. | A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo said army chief-of-staff Major General Engelbert Rugeje told a rally that his soldiers would force members of the public to go and vote for Mr Mugabe. |
| "We are soldiers who do not ask for things, but force things," Maj Gen Rugeje said. "On Friday, we are going to make sure that you go and vote not for a person of your choice, but Mugabe." | "We are soldiers who do not ask for things, but force things," Maj Gen Rugeje said. "On Friday, we are going to make sure that you go and vote not for a person of your choice, but Mugabe." |
| Villagers have also described how they have been ordered to feign arm injuries so they can be assisted in polling booths by Zanu-PF supporters, who would ensure they vote for Mr Mugabe. | Villagers have also described how they have been ordered to feign arm injuries so they can be assisted in polling booths by Zanu-PF supporters, who would ensure they vote for Mr Mugabe. |
| Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC that hundreds of people had sought shelter in the South African embassy in Harare, asking for political refuge. | Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC that hundreds of people had sought shelter in the South African embassy in Harare, asking for political refuge. |
| 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. |