Zimbabwe Opposition Shuns Power Sharing Talks

Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has withdrawn from a moribund power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF. The MDC released a communiqué after a national council meeting, accusing Mugabe of impeding the implementation of a September 15 power sharing accord and demanding fresh elections supervised by the international community. The beleaguered opposition party also alleged a government plan to assassinate its top leaders and renew a violent campaign against its supporters. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai won a first round presidential vote last March, agreed to become part of a unity government crafted after Mugabe was controversially reelected in a one man runoff he boycotted citing violence against his supporters. [PE]