Zimbabwe's Main Opposition Leader Seeks Refuge in Dutch Embassy

The leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Morgan Tsvangirai has taken refuge at the Dutch Embassy in Harare. The move comes after Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC party, decided to withdraw from this week's presidential runoff election against Robert Mugabe – which was scheduled to take place this coming Friday. At least 200,000 people have been displaced in the lead up to election: 20,000 homes have been destroyed, and at least 80 MDC supporters have been killed at the hands of thugs, acting out in support of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party. In a press conference Sunday, Tsvangirai cited the state's brutal repression as cause for withdrawing from the election. Meanwhile, Western nations are weighing in on the trouble in Zimbabwe: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today called Mugabe's regime illegitimate; US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a similar statement. European Commission spokesman John Clancey says countries in the region must step up and do more towards finding a solution in Zimbabwe. The African Union is not scheduled to meet again until next week. We spoke with Michael Swigert of Africa Action about the latest developments in Zimbabwe.

Click here for June 23, 2008 Newscast