Zimbabwe opposition supporters seek refuge at US Embassy
Refugees outside the US Embassy
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 9:18a.m.

Hundreds of Zimbabwe opposition supporters have sought refuge at the United States Embassy in Harare amid fresh reports of violence against dissenters.
Loyalists of President Robert Mugabe, whose unopposed re-election last week was scorned by world leaders as a sham, have attacked supporters of the opposition group, Movement for Democratic Change, US embassy officials said.
"In the aftermath of the elections the beating continues, the persecution of people for their political beliefs," said the U.S. Embassy's Public Affair Officer, Paul Engelstad.
Widespread state-sponsored violence had led the party's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to pull out of the presidential runoff, leaving the 27th of June race to Mugabe.
On Thursday, around 300 people with small bundles of possessions milled outside the US mission in the Zimbabwe capital.
"As we understand it there was a raid on MDC Harvest House, MDC's headquarters and these people have no place to go," said Engelstad.
Riot police appeared there, but police officials said they were at the scene only briefly.
US Ambassador James McGee said the group was from the opposition headquarters in Harare, which had become a refuge.
He said by telephone that embassy officials were working with humanitarian organisations to find accommodation for the group.
In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said embassy staff did not see the group as a security risk and that they were outside the building's security perimeter.
Reports of violence and intimidation against opposition supporters have increased.
One man who was seeking refuge at the US Embassy said "they accused me of being MDC supporter".
Another said he was left with nothing after his home was targeted.
"My house was destroyed to ground level and all the property was burnt to ashes," he said.
At least 80 opposition supporters were killed before the runoff and the opposition says more than 10 have been killed since.
Meanwhile the situation in Zimbabwe attracted scathing criticism on Thursday from the United Nations Security Council.
UN Security Council members were handed the draft text of a U.S. plan for new sanctions on President Robert Mugabe's regime.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad, who introduced the draft, emphasised that the council already has approved two statements concluding that Mugabe's re-election should not have been held and was illegitimate.
"There is a crisis of legitimacy that continues, political legitimacy that continues. This crisis not only impacts the people of Zimbabwe, and we stand with them, but also the region and it impacts the credibility of the Security Council," he said.
Tsvangirai beat Mugabe and three others in the first round of presidential voting in March. Electoral officials said Tsvangirai did not take the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff against second-place finisher Mugabe.
AP