afrol News, 8 April - Zimbabwean police have been accused of assaulting more than 80 opposition activists in the western provinces of Manicaland and Matabeleland.

Opposition figures said the attack was among the ruling Zanu-PF government's calculated tactics to intimidate voters ahead of the planned presidential second round poll.

Informed sources said at least 200 senior officers of the armed forces have been deployed to lead the war veterans and Zanu-PF thugs in a military operation aimed at cowering Zimbabweans into voting for President Robert Mugabe in the poll run-off.

Zimbabweans voted in the combined polls nine days ago, but the national electoral commission has failed to declare the presidential results public.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change was impatient with the trend and filed a petition at the High Court. The party had earlier declared its leader Morgan Tsvangirai of the presidential polls.

Justice Tendai Uchena has agreed to preside over an opposition request seeking the urgent release of the results.

"The case should proceed," Justice Tendai Uchena ruled.

But Zanu-PF officials demanded a recount of the vote, accusing some electoral officers of conniving with the MDC to falsify their leader's votes. Scores of electoral officers have been arrested and charged with fraud and criminal abuse of duty. They are currently being held at Harare Central police station.

The ruling party wondered why the results posted outside polling stations portrayed more votes for Mr Mugabe than those sent for counting in Harare.

Officials of the MDC called on the international community, especially African leaders to pressure President Mugabe to concede defeat and avoid a bloodshed in the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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