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HARARE - Zimbabweans welcomed opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's decision on Sunday to withdraw from next week's run-off election, saying the move would "save lives" as pre-poll violence escalated.
"This is the best move he could ever make," said Itai Madzana at his open-air car wash stand in Harare's upmarket Avenues district.
"It will save many lives. We have got to a situation where we no longer know whether we will see each other tomorrow because of the violence."
A security guard in central Harare who spoke on condition of anonymity repeated the sentiment, saying Tsvangirai's decision "will save a lot of lives."
"I failed to go to church this morning after ZANU-PF youths ordered everyone to attend their rally or risk being beaten," he said, referring to the ruling party.
Tsvangirai, in announcing his decision, said violence had made a fair vote impossible, claiming more than 80 of his party's supporters had been killed in a campaign of intimidation.
The announcement came after his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national council met to debate whether to stay in the race, in which the party had hoped to topple veteran leader Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai's announcement drew applause from party supporters attending the press conference at the opposition leader's house.
Besides the claims about supporters being killed, the MDC also says 10,000 have been injured and 200,000 internally displaced. More than 20,000 homes have been destroyed by ruling party militias, they say.
"The police have been reduced to bystanders while ZANU-PF militias commit crimes against humanity, varying from rape, torture, murder, arson, abductions and other atrocities," Tsvangirai told the press conference.
"Given the totality of these circumstances, we believe a credible election which reflects the will of the people is impossible."
Patrick Madzvimbo, a property manager in the capital, was doubtful that the withdrawal would bring an end to the violence.
"We are in trouble. Just wait until that old man speaks," he said, referring to Mugabe, who had vowed that voting the MDC leader into power was tantamount to voting for war.
"The violence will intensify in urban areas. Economically, we are in trouble for the next five years and things will be worse. Now what will the region say about Zimbabwe? We are bound to be isolated."
Before Tsvangirai's announcement, hordes of ruling party youths armed with whips and sticks gathered at the venue of a rally planned by the MDC on the outskirts of the capital. Tsvangirai had been expected to address supporters there.
- AFP /ls
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