Mbeki urges Mugabe to cancel run-off vote

Harare: South African President Thabo Mbeki has urged Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe to cancel next week's presidential run-off vote and negotiate a deal with the
opposition, South Africa's Business Day newspaper said on Thursday.

Mbeki met Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai separately in Zimbabwe on Wednesday to try to mediate an end to an increasingly violent crisis.

Mugabe stands accused by opponents, Western countries and human rights groups of orchestrating a campaign of killings and intimidation to keep his 28-year hold on power in the once prosperous country whose economy is now in ruins.

Business Day, a respected financial daily, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Mbeki tried to set up a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai -- their first ever -- but did not receive a firm commitment from Zimbabwe's president.

It said Mbeki attempted to convince Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a government of national unity.

Mugabe lost the first round vote to Tsvangirai on March 29, but the opposition leader did not get the outright majority needed to avoid a second round, according to official results.

Mbeki met with Mugabe for 3-1/2 hours in Zimbabwe's second biggest city, Bulawayo, on Wednesday night but made no comment to reporters after the talks.

Opposition sees farce

Business Day reported that Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai agreed to meet Mugabe and told Mbeki that any run-off would be a farce.

"Tsvangirai said the runoff would be a sham because he has not been allowed to campaign, his party officials and supporters are being arrested, harassed and killed," Business Day quoted a source as saying.

Tsvangirai's MDC said on Thursday it had launched an urgent court application to appeal against a state ban on its advertisements and media cover of the party's run-off campaign.

Spokesman George Sibotshiwe said the party had been told by the Zimbabwe Broadcast Corp. and Zimpapers that the state media organisations had been instructed not to accept opposition campaign advertisements or report on the party's campaign.

There was no immediate comment from ZBC or the Zimbabwe Newspapers group.

Mbeki, who has led regional mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, has been criticised for his quiet diplomatic approach that has failed to end a political and economic crisis that has driven millions of people into neighbouring states.

Mugabe blames his foes for the violence and has threatened to arrest opposition leaders over the troubles. Tsvangirai's party says at least 66 people have been killed by ZANU-PF supporters.

The United States and former colonial power Britain also accuse Mugabe of trying to intimidate opponents.