Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Seeks Refuge in Dutch Embassy

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has sought refuge in theDutch Embassy in Harare. VOA's Delia Robertson reports from oursouthern Africa bureau in Johannesburg the development comes a dayafter Tsvangirai withdraw from a presidential runoff election againstZimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

The Dutch Foreign Ministryconfirmed that Morgan Tsvangirai is being sheltered at the country'sembassy in Harare. The ministry said the decision had been madeearlier by the Foreign Minister following a request for assistance,should it be needed, from the MDC.

Tsvangirai's move to theDutch embassy followed a police raid on his party's headquarters andthe arrest of dozens of opposition supporters. The MDC said most weremothers and children and other victims of political violence who hadsought shelter at party's Harare office.

Earlier in the dayTsvangirai told South African radio that he would would be willing tonegotiate with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on a way forwardfollowing his withdrawal from the presidential runoff election,providing there is an end to political violence.

Tsvangiraiwithdrew from the presidential runoff election Sunday saying that itwas an illegitimate, violent sham. But Justice Minister PatrickChinamasa says the election will go ahead. This was echoed by thechairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission George Chiweshe who toldSouth Africa radio a credible election remains possible.

"Everythingis in place, our logistics are in place, we are deploying our personneland electoral officers on the ground, to the districts to theconstituencies, to the polling centers," said Chiweshe. "We are doingall that."

President Thabo Mbeki, who facilitated talks betweenthe MDC and Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF last year, has said he hopes theparties will return to the table.

"It is still necessary thatthe political leadership of Zimbabwe should get together and find asolution to the challenges that face Zimbabwe," he said. "So I wouldhope that leadership would still be open to a process which wouldresult in them coming to some agreement about what happens to theircountry."

But on Sunday Tsvangirai made it plain he wants abroader African involvement in Zimbabwe including the African Union. The AU said in a statement Monday it is gravely concerned about thesituation in Zimbabwe.