Mugabe's "Orgy of Violence" Stops Tsvangirai

Harare - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday that his decision to withdraw from this week's presidential runoff was motivated by the "orgy of violence" - including rape, torture, murder, arson and abductions - by ruling party militants.

The violence and intimidation that has caused terror in rural areas, erupted in full view of international election observers in the capital on Sunday when thousands of President Robert Mugabe's feared youth brigades went on a rampage to prevent the opposition from holding a rally.

"We can't ask the people to cast their vote ... when that vote will cost their lives," a sombre Tsvangirai told a news conference.

"This violent retributive agenda has seen over 200 000 people internally displaced and over 86 MDC supporters killed.

"Over 20 000 homes have been destroyed and over 10 000 people have been injured and maimed in this orgy of violence," he declared.

'No-go' areas

A virtual ban on independent journalists and most international humanitarian organisations have turned large parts of Zimbabwe into effective no-go areas and made it difficult to confirm the opposition claims.

The government blames the Movement for Democratic Change for the violence, but most observers and groups like Amnesty International say much of it is fomented by soldiers and militants loyal to Mugabe.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights - whose members are confronted daily with the victims of violence - said last week that at least 85 people had died following the first round of elections on March 29.

The most recent victims included a school headmaster in the Mutoko district northeast of Harare whose eye was removed and whose genitals were severed.

The fire-charred body of another, the wife of an opposition local council official southwest of the capital, was found with both feet and a hand removed, the doctors said.

The doctors said surgeons and anaesthetists - already scarce as most have fled the economic meltdown - were overwhelmed.

* News 24