The Associated Press: Zimbabwe opposition leader seeks refuge with Dutch
Zimbabwe's opposition leader has fled to the Dutch Embassy saying he
feared for his safety, while police on Monday raided his party's
headquarters and took about 60 people away. Morgan Tsvangirai
went to the embassy Sunday shortly after announcing he was withdrawing
from Friday's presidential runoff against longtime leader Robert
Mugabe, citing violence against opposition supporters, a Dutch Foreign
Ministry spokesman said.
Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election on March
29, but did not gain an outright majority against 84-year-old Mugabe.
That campaign was generally peaceful, but the runoff has been
overshadowed by violence and intimidation, especially in rural areas.
Independent human rights groups say 85 people have died and tens of
thousands have been displaced from their homes, most of them opposition
supporters.
feared for his safety, while police on Monday raided his party's
headquarters and took about 60 people away. Morgan Tsvangirai
went to the embassy Sunday shortly after announcing he was withdrawing
from Friday's presidential runoff against longtime leader Robert
Mugabe, citing violence against opposition supporters, a Dutch Foreign
Ministry spokesman said.
Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election on March
29, but did not gain an outright majority against 84-year-old Mugabe.
That campaign was generally peaceful, but the runoff has been
overshadowed by violence and intimidation, especially in rural areas.
Independent human rights groups say 85 people have died and tens of
thousands have been displaced from their homes, most of them opposition
supporters.
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