Tsvangirai to contest run-off
10/05/2008 10:36 - (SA)
Pretoria, South Africa - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday he would contest a second-round run-off in his country's presidential elections.
"The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," Tsvangirai told a press conference here, flanked by the leadership of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
Tsvangirai said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not face Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the run-off.
Tsvangirai has said previously he won the first round outright and that official figures showing a second round is necessary are fraudulent.
Opposition officials and independent human rights activist have accused Mugabe of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round on March 29.
They also have questioned whether a second round could be free and fair.
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has said today that he will be standing for the presidential run-off election against incumbent Robert Mugabe.

"The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," he told reporters at a conference in Pretoria, South Africa, where he has been staying for the last month. He said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he didn't stand and that the people are "ready for the final round".

Despite the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's (ZEC) official declaration that Mr. Tsvangirai won 47.9% against Mr. Mugabe's 43.2% in the first round, the MDC claims that they won it outright, gaining over 50%. They are sure that Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have used the time since the first round to rig votes and intimidate the electorate.

The MDC has also called for "unfettered access of all international observers," eventhough Mr. Mugabe has imposed bans on journalists  from outside Zimbabwe reporting within the country.

The ZEC has yet to announce when the run-off will take place, but Mr. Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May.