ANC expresses dismay over Zimbabwe democratic crisis

Harare: South Africa's governing ANC party expressed dismay over the Zimbabwean government's "flagrant violation" of democracy, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

The strong statement from the ANC was viewed as a sign of mounting diplomatic pressure on its government, the BBC said. The ANC accused the Zimbabwean government of “riding roughshod over hard-won democratic rights". It said it could not remain "indifferent to the flagrant violation of every principle of democratic governance".

ANC leader Jacob Zuma also said the situation in Zimbabwe was "out of control" and called for urgent international intervention.

Zimbabwe was also criticised by world leaders, with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa calling Zimbabwe a regional “embarrassment'' and Botswana and Tanzania condemning the violence.

Meanwhile, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formally withdrew from the June 27 presidential run-off on Tuesday.

The party withdrew after MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he was withdrawing from the race against President Robert Mugabe for fear of violence during the election.

After the announcement, Tsvangirai sought refuge in the Dutch embassy in Harare, prompting Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to criticise him on Tuesday.

"Tsvangirai is frightened. He has run to seek refuge at the Dutch embassy. What for? These are voters, they will do you no harm. No one wants to kill Tsvangirai," Mugabe said at a rally in the west of the country.