JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Assassination threats have derailed plans by Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to return home to campaign for the presidential run-off, a party official said Saturday.

Movement for Democratic Change officials received information from a "credible source" about a planned attack on Tsvangirai, party spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.

"We have received information from a credible source concerning a planned assassination attempt on President Tsvangirai today," Sibotshiwe told The Associated Press. "Because of that it has been decided that the president will not return today."

He said there was no immediate clue who was behind the alleged plot to kill the Movement for Democratic Change leader. There was no response from the government.

Tsvangirai, who has been out of the country for the past few weeks, had planned to kick off campaigning Sunday for the June 27 presidential run-off. He won the first round against President Robert Mugabe, 84, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, but fell short of an outright majority. He says the run-off is illegal, but that the party will contest it.

The opposition and most observers say that the mounting violence and intimidation, mainly targeting opposition supporters, make it virtually impossible to hold a credible vote.

In recent weeks, opposition supporters have been beaten, killed, and driven from their homes in a campaign of terror that observers say is meant to secure Mugabe's lock on power.

The Movement for Democratic Change says that more than 30 of its supporters have been killed.

Sibotshiwe said party officials would consult their own security experts and regional leaders for advice. He said Tsvangirai would return "at the earliest opportunity."

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW

Thanks for participating!

Be the first to recommend - Sign in now


See what other people are recommending - Popular Stories