Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn his candidacy from the upcoming Zimbabwean elections, saying that free and fair elections in the country have become an impossibility following the "orgy of violence" unleashed by Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. He appealed for international action to prevent "genocide" in the country.

"We can't ask the people to cast their vote on June 27 when that vote will cost their lives," Tsvangirai told reporters. "We will no longer participate in this violent sham of an election."

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights last week that at least 85 people had died following the first round of elections March 29.

Javier Solana has expressed sympathy for Tsvangirai's decision. He spoke out against the "systematic campaign of violence, interference and intimidation by the Zimbabwean authorities". "Under these conditions, the elections would have been a parody of democracy that is unworthy of today's Africa," he added.

In reaction to the new developments, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that the "circumstances that led to the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from the presidential elections represent a deeply distressing development that does not bode well for the future of democracy in Zimbabwe...The campaign of violence and intimidation that has marred this election has done a great disservice to the people of the country and must end immediately."

Sources:

• http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVzChm3pCHgJA_o1xakjMIBqhQegD91FA1VG0
• http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3430581,00.html
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2178916/Zimbabwe-UN-Secretary-General-Ban-Ki-Moon-fears-for-democracy.html
• http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/674c9ca2-40bb-11dd-bd48-0000779fd2ac.html
• http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hM55-LpEqnWLVXNbwCHOL6ERULAg