Tsvangirai says Zimbabwe ruled by military junta
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2008 20:13
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says country is being ruled by "military junta"
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The leader of the main opposition party in
Zimbabwe has described Robert Mugabe's government as a "military junta".
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai told a Harare news conference he was determined to contest the presidential run-off later this month to end the "state-sponsored brutality".
Mr Tsvangirai claimed 66 of his supporters had been killed following the inconclusive first round of voting at the end of March, with a further 3,000 requiring hospital treatment.
"This country is effectively now run by a military junta," he explained.
But Mr Tsvangirai said he was determined to "finish what we have started".
"Despite the conditions on the ground, the MDC is focused on the run-off and has developed counter-strategies of campaigning."
A second vote was ordered by electoral officials after neither Mr Tsvangirai nor Mr Mugabe gained a 50 per cent share of the vote.
The presidential run-off is due to be held on June 27th, with Mr Tsvangirai bidding to end almost three decades of rule by Mr Mugabe.