MDC leader 'may withdraw from Zimbabwe poll'
Friday, 20 Jun 2008 13:58
Morgan Tsvangirai considering withdrawing from Zimbabwe presidential runoff in face of escalating violence
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Morgan Tsvangirai has admitted escalating violence in
Zimbabwe may force him to withdraw from his presidential runoff with Robert Mugabe.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader is considering pulling out of the poll on June 27th in the face of intimidation and violence targeting his supporters.
A decision from Mr Tsvangirai is expected on Monday.
The party says 70 of its activists or their spouses and children have been killed since the inconclusive first vote on March 29th.
Mr Tsvangirai won the popular vote but failed to gain an overall majority.
Previously he had insisted he would contend the runoff with Mr Mugabe in a bid to end 28 years of rule by the veteran Zanu-PF leader.
But party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the Reuters news agency: "There is a huge avalanche of calls and pressure from (MDC) supporters across the country, especially in the rural areas, not to accept to be participants in this charade."
The admission came as the
European Union hinted at a new range of sanctions against Harare in a draft paper.