Two die in Zimbabwe violence

The political violence has spread to the capital Harare

Two more opposition party supporters have died in political violence in Zimbabwe, according to police.

James Chitungo, elections director for the minority opposition United Party, said a traditional chief was among the UP members killed in skirmishes with activists from President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF.

The clashes, in the north-eastern district of Mudzi, came amid calls for a larger team of international observers to monitor elections next month.

Morgan Tsvangirai: Violence will undermine free vote

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and South African President Thabo Mbeki, meeting in London, said they shared a key goal over the Zimbabwe crisis - to return stability and prosperity to the country.

Mr Chitungo put the death toll at four: "We received information that two of our members were murdered last night, and two more have been murdered this morning.

"There are a lot of people injured and the assaults are going on daily."

The UP is led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who headed a short-lived government in 1979-80, before Zanu-PF was allowed to contest elections.

The latest killings raise to at least 23 the total number of people killed in three months of political and land-related violence.

Anyone knows - before we even go to the elections - it is not going to be free and fair

Morgan Tsvangirai
MDC leader

Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), predicted further violence by government supporters in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.

The MDC said it was still trying to trace five of its supporters abducted by suspected Zanu-PF members on Monday, who are now feared dead.

London summit

In London, Prime Minister Blair and Mr Mbeki said they shared a vision for Zimbabwe's future.

Mr Mbeki has refrained from condemning the occupation of more than 700 of Zimbabwe's white-owned farms by militant supporters of President Mugabe, who say they are reclaiming land stolen in the colonial era.

"We agreed [that] the elections be free and fair," Mr Blair said. "Any initiative by the UN would be of immense importance and help in trying to deal with difficult issues."

Mr Mbeki said he supported UN intervention to move the process forward and ensure free and fair elections.

The United Nations says it will try to create a renewed land reform programme in Zimbabwe, in a bid to defuse the crisis.

The UN Development Programme aims to draw up a scheme that will be fair, legally enforceable and beneficial for Zimbabwe's poorest people.

Constituency changes

Meanwhile, the MDC is going to court to contest electoral arrangements announced by the government, arguing that Zanu-PF will be given an unfair advantage.

"Violence is going to increase," Mr Tsvangirai said.

President Mugabe said there would be election monitors

"Because of the fraudulent nature of the process anyone knows that, before we even go to the elections, it is not going to be free and fair."

The MDC has objected to reported changes in constituency borders in its two main strongholds - the capital, Harare, and second city Bulawayo.

The state-owned Herald newspaper said parts of these cities are to be combined with adjoining rural districts, where Zanu-PF support is much stronger.

The MDC believes that this will cause its vote to be diluted.

President Robert Mugabe announced on Monday that the long-awaited election would be held on 24-25 June.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon met Mr Mugabe on Tuesday, and said he believed that a free and fair election was possible, despite the violence.