Tsvangirai to face Mugabe in run-off election

Tsvangirai has vowed to face President Robert Mugabe in a run-off election

Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is returning to Zimbabwe in the next few days after leaving in early April amid post-election violence directed at his party.

Tsvangirai has vowed to face President Robert Mugabe in a run-off election despite the risk of further violence.

Tsvangirai, who is threatened by treason accusations in Zimbabwe, will first seek security assurances from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), before returning to Harare. Before Saturday, Tsvangirai had refused to say whether he would take part in the run-off even though failure to do so would have handed victory to Mugabe.

Electoral Commission to remain as it is
In a development set to compound Zimbabwe's political stalemate, the ruling Zanu-PF party has said conditions demanded by the MDC for the run-off election will not be considered.

The party's spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa, says no reconstitution of the controversial Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will take place, while no United Nations observers will be allowed.

Chinamasa has also launched an attack on SADC chair, president Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia for failing to criticise western imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's leadership.