| Follow-up. |
Tsvangirai cited mounting violence and intimidation against his party as major reasons for him to quit the run-off. Speaking to the press, Tsvangirai said ' We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on the 27th when that vote would cost them their lives.'
'Conditions as of today do not permit the holding of a credible poll,' Tsvangirai said.
He also said it is the responsibility of the United Nations to make sure the people of Zimbabwe are protected from the ongoing violence in the country.
| There's your first problem, depending on the U.N. ... |
In a quick Reponse to Tsvangirai's announcement, the Zimbabwe government, which has repeatedly denied directing violence and intimidation against the opposition, said it will proceed with the June 27 presidential run-off election unless opposition leader Tsvangirai formally withdraws from the poll in writing, a senior government minister said.
'Tsvangirai must write formally to ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) advising that he is withdrawing from the race, in which event there will be one candidate, meaning there will not be a poll. If he doesn't, the poll will take place,' Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said.
South Africa, which is mediating between President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai, on Sunday urged Zimbabwe's opposition to continue with talks to find a solution to the political problems in Zimbabwe after Tsvangirai announced to pull out of the June 27 presidential run-off election.