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Mugabe rival leaves Dutch embassy | Mugabe rival leaves Dutch embassy |
(10 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has left the Dutch embassy in Harare, where he took refuge last week, a Dutch official has said. | Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has left the Dutch embassy in Harare, where he took refuge last week, a Dutch official has said. |
Mr Tsvangirai had decided the situation was calm enough to return home, the Dutch foreign ministry official said. | |
Mr Tsvangirai went to the embassy fearing for his safety, after pulling out of last Friday's presidential run-off because of election violence. | Mr Tsvangirai went to the embassy fearing for his safety, after pulling out of last Friday's presidential run-off because of election violence. |
President Robert Mugabe, the Zanu-PF leader, claimed victory in the vote. | |
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says he won the presidential election outright in March, but government officials said he did not secure enough votes to avoid a run-off. | |
The election has been widely criticised by Western leaders as not being free or fair. | The election has been widely criticised by Western leaders as not being free or fair. |
Growing AU pressure | |
Mr Mugabe is expected to address an African Union summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh later on Tuesday. | |
We would urge the South African group to ensure they engage both parties to form a transitional government that prepares Zimbabwe for fresh elections Ernest KoromaPresident, Sierra Leone African leaders' discomfortZimbabwe: Possible scenariosInside Mugabe's mind | |
African leaders attending the summit have faced growing pressure to take a strong stand against Mr Mugabe. | |
Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma told the BBC he strongly condemned Zimbabwe's flawed electoral process. | |
"We believe the people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights," he said. | |
Mr Koroma expressed support for a South African initiative to encourage the formation of a transitional government of national unity. | |
"We would urge the South African group to ensure they engage both parties to form a transitional government that prepares Zimbabwe for fresh elections." | |
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged the AU to suspend Mr Mugabe until he allowed free and fair elections. | |
But Africa's longest serving leader, Gabon President Omar Bongo, said Mr Mugabe should be accepted as the country's elected president. | |
Sanctions call dismissed | |
In Zimbabwe, meanwhile, an elderly farmer, his wife and their son-in-law, were found alive but badly beaten on Monday. | |
Robert Mugabe is due to address the AU summit later on Tuesday | |
Mike Campbell, 75, his wife Angela, 66 and Ben Freeth had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their Harare farm by heavily armed Zanu-PF supporters on Sunday. | |
When they were found, Mr Campbell had concussion and a broken collar-bone, one of his wife's arms was broken in two places, and Mr Freeth had been beaten on the soles of his feet. | |
A friend of the family said the Campbells had been forced to sign a document withdrawing an appeal against the seizure of his farm. | |
Earlier, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN dismissed calls for sanctions against his country over pre-election violence. | |
Boniface Chidyausiku dubbed US-led calls for fresh UN measures against Zimbabwe a "non-issue". | |
Asked about sanctions, Mr Chidyausiku told AP news agency: "I'm not even bothered, I wouldn't lose sleep over it... We are not a threat to international peace and security." | |
Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential vote on 29 March but failed to win an absolute majority. | |
He reluctantly agreed to participate in the 27 June run-off but withdrew blaming violence which he said had killed nearly 90 of his followers. | |
Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think of the international reaction to the election? Send your comments using the form below, or text 44 7624 800 100: | |