Date:18/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051855531300.htm

International

Postpones return

JOHANNESBURG: Assassination threats have derailed plans by Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to return home to campaign for the presidential run-off vote, a party official said on Saturday. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials received information from a “credible source” about a planned attack on Mr. Tsvangirai, said party spokesman George Sibotshiwe.

He said there was no immediate clue about who was behind the alleged plot to kill Mr. Tsvangirai. There was no response from the government.

Mr. Tsvangirai, who has been out of the country for the past few weeks, had planned to kick off campaigning on Sunday for the June 27 presidential run-off. He won the first round against President Robert Mugabe, but fell short of a majority. — AP