Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE: SITUATION UPDATE

English/Nat XFA Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, has said they will not boycott upcoming elections in the country. M-D-C leader Morgan Tsvangirai said they expect to win their bid to have a strong opposition voice in parliament. Meanwhile, liberation war veterans armed with clubs and iron bars and ruling party militants chased away supporters of a peace rally. Many fled and others were prevented from attending. Scores of police, some in riot gear, watched passively as supporters of the National Constitutional Assembly, an alliance of civic groups, fled the grounds of a sports arena in western Harare rented for the rally. Armed ruling party militants chased away at least 100 supporters of a peace rally called by civic groups today. Others who approached were prevented from attending. Scores of police, some in riot gear, watched as supporters of the National Constitutional Assembly fled the grounds of the rented sports arena. There were no reports of injuries. In the end the gathering still took place after some N-C-A supporters refused to leave. Spokesman Tendai Biti said they would not succumb to the -- quote -- 'forces of evil' by leaving. But he admitted worse was probably to come. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Many of us are going to die. 25 people have died so far but I can assure you, by the time that Robert Mugabe decides to have elections, Zimbabwe will be a blood bath and it is important for us to come out and come out and say no." SUPER CAPTION: Tendai Biti, National Constitutional Assembly spokesman The alliance, which comprises churches, opposition parties and other groups, had received police permission to hold the rally against worsening political violence. But police ignored the unlawful dispersal of the gathering crowds. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We were the security and then the so-called war veterans, they came with their car and then they had sticks and iron bars and they just started chasing people. That's what happened." SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop On Saturday the Movement for Democratic Change said it has rejected the possibility of boycotting upcoming elections. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The M-D-C council has this morning received reports and representations from the structures of the 12 provinces across Zimbabwe. And it has unanimously reaffirmed that in spite of the violence and intimidation, random killings and other forms of political oppression obtaining in the country, the party will contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections." SUPER CAPTION: Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change leader The M-D-C is seen as the first real challenge to Mugabe's rule since he led the nation to independence from Britain. Leader Morgan Tsvangirai is confident his party can break ruling party Zanu-P-F's domination in parliament. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Because of these killings and murders and all that, therefore we should opt for the second strategy which is to go for the opposition voice in parliament. That is not an option. We are going for victory and people are going to deliver that victory." SUPER CAPTION: Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change leader At least 18 people have died in recent weeks' violence in Zimbabwe. Mourners held a memorial for one of the three white farmers killed so far, all M-D-C supporters. Alan Dunn was beaten to death on Sunday by attackers linked to war veterans and violent squatters who have illegally occupied hundreds of white-owned farms. Over a thousand people attended Saturday's service. Despite the agreement, Mugabe did not call outright for an end to the violence or the farm occupations. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3aade7b647e909aaf6817f159b4b8985 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork