Kitsepile Nyathi
7 June 2008
Harare — Veterans of Zimbabwe's 1970s liberation war say they want the June 27 presidential run-off election called off until a new constitution is crafted and sanctions by the West lifted.
Their call came as Zimbabwean police detained opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for the second time this week after blocking him from reaching a campaign rally.
The former fighters, accused by the opposition of being at the forefront of an orgy of political violence that has claimed 65 of its supporters and displaced thousands others, threatened war if their demands were not met.
President Robert Mugabe will be hoping to bounce back from a shock defeat by Mr Tsvangirai in the first round two months ago in a poll already tainted by the violence blamed on his militant supporters.
The shadowy group of war veterans calling themselves the Revolutionary Council was launched in Harare this week, with Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, nominated as its patron.
"As the Revolutionary Council, we demand that the whole electoral process be set aside and the old parliament reconstituted with President Robert Gabriel Mugabe remaining the head of state and, therefore, no run-off that is being talked about for June 27, 2008," said its chairperson, Chris Pasipamire.
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