Mugabe rival accepts run-off vote

“The MDC … will contest the run-off,” he said.

“I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round.”

‘Unfettered access’ call

Tsvangirai said that full access for international observers and media was a pre-condition for his participation in the run-off against Mugabe.

“We want unfettered access of all international observers. The ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has totally discredited itself to a point now they are partisan to the [ruling] Zanu-PF. The reconstitution of ZEC is therefore paramount,” he said.

“Media access should be unfettered, both print and international media,” he said, listing the conditions for his participation in the run-off after disputed March 29 polls.”

He also called for an end to violence and asked the Southern African Development Community to send peacekeepers to monitor the upcoming presidential run-off.

Tsvangirai said previously he won the first round outright and that official figures showing a second round is necessary are fraudulent.

The US has also called for the deployment of election and UN human rights monitors in Zimbabwe.

Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said: “We’d like to see election monitors come in, we’d like to see UN  human rights monitors come in and ensure that we have a safe electoral process there.”

“If this is going to be a successful run-off, obviously that’s the first thing that has to happen – opposition leaders and their supporters must be able to freely campaign free of violence.”