Zimbabwe opposition forced from race

BBC:

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of Friday's presidential run-off, handing victory to President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai said there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself".

He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide".

But the ruling Zanu-PF said Mr Tsvangirai had taken the decision to avoid "humiliation" in the poll.

The opposition decision came after its supporters, heading to a rally in the capital Harare, came under attack.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says at least 70 supporters have been killed in recent months.

At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process."

"We will not play the game of Mugabe," he added.

He called on the United Nations, African Union and the southern African grouping SADC to intervene to prevent a "genocide" in Zimbabwe.

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Mugabe's agricultural policies have created a genocide in Zimbabwe long before this election. It is not particularly surprising that the MDC would see continuing to campaign under the current circumstances as futile and destructive. Their withdrawal will probably put more international pressure on Mugabe since his election will clearly be seen as illegitimate.