Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai addresses the media in Harare June 22, 2008. Tsvangirai pulled out of a run-off election against President Robert Mugabe on Sunday, saying a free and fair poll was impossible in the current climate of violence.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HARARE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday "sought refuge" at the Dutch Embassy in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, The Herald reported on Tuesday.

    The police said the move was to stir international anger and further damage the image of the country, the report said.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said the move was also meant to further brutalize the image of Zimbabwe and in particular the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on the international arena.

    "We wonder whom Tsvangirai is running away or hiding from. We do not have any complaints from him or his party of any threats of violence or attempts on his life that would cause him to fear for his safety and seek sanctuary in a foreign embassy," Chihuri said.

Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri addresses a press conference in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare on Monday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "As far as we are concerned, we do not want Tsvangirai for any crime and we have always been open about any arrest we make," he said.

    Chihuri said if police wanted to arrest Tsvangirai, they would have made it public. Tsvangirai and his entourage has been freely moving around the country without any challenge whatsoever on his life in spite of his earlier claims that his life was under threat, he added.

    "We believe the latest development of seeking refuge at the Dutch Embassy is an exhibitionist antic intended to provoke international anger and mustering of sympathy from his handlers," he said.

    Zimbabwe, Chihuri said, was currently pursuing an electoral process in which Tsvangirai is a key stakeholder seeking to get the public mandate to rule the country and was puzzled by his fleeing.

    He said the police were surprised why information on what is happening concerning MDC-T was coming from external sources.

    Chihuri also stated that ZRP would not condone any form of lawlessness and would investigate every crime reported without fear or favor. "We therefore declare that Morgan Tsvangirai is under no threat at all from Zimbabweans and he should cast away these delusions. We at the same time ask the Dutch Embassy if indeed he is there to tell him to go home and enjoy his sleep and nothing will happen to him," Chihuri said.

    Chihuri dismissed the opposition claims of acts of violence against its supporters.

    Early on Monday, the Harare City Council raided MDC-T headquarters and moved about 37 supporters and their children who were living at the city building under hazardous health conditions to Ruwa Rehabilitation Center.

    The local authority, together with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, raided Harvest House at mid-morning following a tip-off by fellow tenants in the building along Nelson Mandela Avenue. Police spokesperson Superintendent Jessie Banda said the police would take the opportunity to look for wanted persons.

    "During the screening process we will be looking for those persons wanted for political violence who might have been using the MDC-T headquarters as their safe house," Banda said.

    Chihuri dismissed rumors that about 2,000 MDC-T supporters were arrested at Harvest House, saying only 37 people were found during the raid. "There were only 37 people found at Harvest House and not 2,000 as suggested by the rumor. They are now at Ruwa Rehabilitation Center," he said. 

Zimbabwe vice president calls for abstaining from violence

    HARARE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe Vice President Joyce Mujuru has called for abstaining from violence for the June 27 presidential run-off elections, local media reported on Tuesday.

    Mujuru said true cadres were supposed to espouse discipline and nonviolence to appease the spirit of fallen freedom fighters and would never drag the name of the ruling party into disrepute by engaging in violence, according to The Herald. Full story

Zimbabwean electoral body not recieve pullout letter from opposition MDC-T

    HARARE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Two days after announcing his intention to withdraw from the June 27 presidential run-off, Zimbabwe's opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is yet to write to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to make his position official, local media said on Tuesday.

    The ZEC said it was ready for Friday's presidential run-off and the three House of Assembly by-elections with deployment of polling officers having started while election material is being moved to the districts, The Herald said. Full story