Opposition: 4 activists murdered in Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, a group of southern African ministers said Thursday that the looming runoff presidential election is unlikely to be free and fair. It was the strongest regional condemnation yet of pre-poll violence.

"There is every sign that these elections will never be free nor fair," Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe told a news conference. He spoke in Tanzania on behalf of a troika of nations from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) responsible for peace and security matters.

Tanzania is also current chairman of the African Union.

Membe said he and the foreign ministers of Swaziland and Angola would write to their presidents "so that they do something urgently so that we can save Zimbabwe."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also demanded action Wednesday.

"It is time for leaders of Africa to say to President Mugabe that the people of Zimbabwe deserve a free and fair election," she said after a meeting in Washington with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga — one of the few African leaders who has criticized Mugabe.

"You cannot intimidate opponents, you cannot put opponents in jail, you cannot threaten them with jail on charges of treason and expect to be respected in the international community," Rice said.

Ballot rigging?
Most observers praised the conduct of the first round — although not the delay in releasing official results. But there are growing fears that Mugabe will steal the second round through violence and ballot rigging.

In addition to the violence, Tsvangirai's party has seen rallies banned and campaign stops blocked by police, and its No. 2, Tendai Biti, has been arrested on charges of treason. The opposition says the charges are politically motivated.

On Thursday, police presented their case for charging Biti with treason — which can carry the death penalty — and other offenses, including publishing false statements. Formal charges were expected to be filed later Thursday.

The false statement charge was related to Biti's announcement that Tsvangirai won the first round of presidential voting March 29 before official results were released. The opposition claims Tsvangirai won outright, but according to official results, he came first but not with the 50 percent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff.

Tsvangirai, who attended Biti's hearing, told reporters during a break that he objected to "the manner in which this whole case is being handled.

"It's all part of harassment," Tsvangirai added, saying time spent in court was time away from campaigning.

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