Mbeki urges Mugabe to cancel run-off vote

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 yesterday.

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

Mr 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 Mr Mbeki tried to set up a meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai - their first ever - but did not receive a firm commitment from Zimbabwe's President.

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

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

Mr Mbeki met with Mr Mugabe for three and a half hours in Zimbabwe's second biggest city, Bulawayo, on Wednesday night but made no comment to reporters after the talks.

Business Day reported that Movement for Democratic Change leader Mr Tsvangirai agreed to meet Mr Mugabe and told Mr 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.

Mr Tsvangirai's MDC yesterday said 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.

Mr 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.

Mr Mugabe blames his foes for the violence and has threatened to arrest opposition leaders over the troubles. Mr 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 Mr Mugabe of trying to intimidate opponents.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday said that actions by the Zimbabwe government have ensured that presidential run-off elections next week will not be free and fair.

Dr Rice was speaking at a UN round-table meeting on Zimbabwe, where the opposition charges that President Robert Mugabe's supporters have waged a campaign of intimidation ahead of the vote. Mr Mugabe rejects the allegation.

"By its actions, the Mugabe regime has given up any pretence that the June 27 elections will be allowed to proceed in a free and fair manner," Dr Rice said.

She added that it was time for the world to get tougher on Mr Mugabe, although she offered no suggestions of what action should be taken.