Tsvangirai leaves safety of embassy
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai today left his refuge in the Dutch Embassy after fleeing there over the weekend.
Mr Tsvangirai addressed reporters at his home, looking relaxed as he repeated his rejection of a presidential run-off ballot set for Friday.
Mr Tsvangirai called on African leaders to assist in negotiating a solution in Zimbabwe.
“What is important is that both parties must realize the country is burning and the only way is to sit down and find a way out of it,” he said.
Mr Tsvangirai said the goal of the talks would be forming a coalition transitional authority for his country. He said talks could not begin until there was an end to attacks on his supporters blamed on President Robert Mugabe's government and a release of ``political prisoners,'' including top opposition figure Tendai Biti, jailed on treason charges.
He stressed he was not calling for military intervention.
Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change opposition party, fled to the Dutch Embassy on Sunday following the announcement of his withdrawal from the run-off. He sought refuge after getting a tip soldiers were headed to his home.
President Mugabe, by all indications intent on extending his nearly three-decade rule, insists Friday’s vote will go ahead. Mugabe has grown more defiant in the face of growing international pressure.
“The election is not a solution,” Mr Tsvangirai said. “What is a solution is some sort of transitional process to address the critical issues facing the country.
“We are making proposals Mugabe has to accept.”
While Tsvangirai did not spell out how the transitional body would work he has insisted in the past he lead and Mugabe have no role in any coalition.
Mr Tsvangirai later returned to the safety of the Dutch embassy.
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen spoke to Mr Tsvangirai and “underlined he is welcome to stay as long as he wants.”
