Concern is growing internationally over political crisis in Zimbabwe

Concern is mounting in the international community over Zimbabwe's continuing political crisis ahead of Friday's presidential election.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has taken refuge at the Dutch Embassy in the capital Harare after he announced he was pulling out of the presidential runoff against President Robert Mugabe.

The African National Congress of South Africa has criticized Zimbabwe's ruling party, saying the current situation is not conducive to free and fair elections.

Jesse Duarte, Head of Communication African National Congress, South Africa, said, "We are saying very firmly that the current situation in Zimbabwe is untenable, that we believe that the actions of ZANU-PF have been for us quite traumatic, quite difficult to understand, particularly since we all come from the same root objective of deepening democracy and of development, that is really needing us to say to them we need you to give space to the people of Zimbabwe to talk with you and amongst yourselves to solve this problem."