Mugabe arrests election officials

THE Zimbabwe regime intensified its crackdown against the opposition yesterday ahead of a runoff vote for president, arresting at least five officials for allegedly under-counting votes cast for dictator Robert Mugabe in last month's election.

As drunken mobs continued to raid white farms in a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by the regime, police said the election officials, accused of taking nearly 5000 votes away from the President, had been charged with fraud and criminal abuse of duty. ...

Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party has already called for a complete recount of the poll, even before the release of results, and has followed up with the arrest of the election officials.