HOWZAT

Mr Tsvangirai was speaking from the Dutch embassy in Harare. Today he said that he would be leaving soon, as the Dutch ambassador had received assurances about his safety from the Zimbabwe Government. "It was a temporary refuge, so probably (I will leave) today or tomorrow," he said. "I hope that (the Government) means what they say. This is a regime which is acting irrationally."

A statement read out by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency this month, condemned the political violence engulfing Zimbabwe and called on the Government to stop the attacks, to cease intimidating the opposition and to release political leaders who have been detained. It said that the violence and restrictions on the activities of the Opposition "have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place" on Friday.

"To be legitimate, any government of Zimbabwe must take account of the interest of all its citizens," the presidential statement said, adding that the results of the first round of elections on 29 March should be respected.

Council members urged international monitors and observers to remain in Zimbabwe until the crisis was resolved, and welcomed the efforts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and especially of South African President Thabo Mbeki, to find a peaceful settlement "that allows a legitimate government to be formed that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people".

They also voiced concern at the grave humanitarian situation and condemned the Government’s decision to suspend the operation of aid organisations.

Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary-General, who has been in touch with a number of African leaders, added that they all agreed that the elections should be postponed. "I would strongly discourage the authorities with going ahead with the run-off on Friday. It will only deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible," he stated.

Mr Mugabe and his Government blame the violence on the Opposition, and say that Friday's election will go ahead as planned.

Mr Mugabe, 84, who has ruled for 28 years, has vowed never to relinquish power to the MDC. His rule has seen the once stable, prosperous country slide into profound economic crisis, with inflation in excess of a million per cent, the collapse of agriculture, mass unemployment and poverty.

Peter Hain, a former Foreign Office minister and anti-apartheid campaigner, commented today that South Africa should cut power supplies to Zimbabwe, and African peacekeepers should be ready to go in to restore order.

Mr Mugabe would never respond to "diplomatic niceties", so firm action was needed, starting with sanctions against the whole of his elite, said Mr Hain.

"(Cutting electricity supplies) would hit the regime more than anything else because the people can hardly suffer any more than they have been already," Mr Hain told Sky News.

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