Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe warned the opposition on Friday against Kenyan-style violence if they lose next week's election, saying security forces stood ready to crush such protests. The 84-year-old leader faces a stiff challenge from former ally Simba Makoni and long time rival Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), amid a desperate economic crisis. Mugabe said security forces would put down any violence similar to clashes in Kenya that killed more than 1,200 people after the opposition challenged the results of an election in December. "If Tsvangirai and his (MDC) group have such plans, they must stand warned," Mugabe told about 20,000 cheering supporters in his rural home area of Zvimba, 100 km north-west of Harare. "That will never happen here, never, never. We will never allow it. We have enough security forces to handle that."
Political analysts say Mugabe, who earlier this year looked assured of an easy re-election, faces a serious bid from Makoni, who says he is working with some senior officials of the ruling ZANU-PF party and a resurgent Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai on Thursday accused Mugabe of abusing his position to win next week's poll by invoking presidential powers to amend electoral laws to allow police officers -- whose superiors have publicly backed Mugabe -- to assist illiterate and disabled voters in polling booths. Previously, the law did not allow police officers within 100 metres (yards) of polling stations.