Mugabe opponent attacked

Mr Tsvangirai is campaigning around the country

The leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has escaped unhurt after his vehicle was damaged by a mob of suspected ruling party supporters.

According to MDC spokesman Learnmore Jongwe, a group of about 50 Zanu-PF supporters and war veterans attacked the MDC motorcade with sticks, stones, machetes and spears.

They stoned his vehicle shattering all windows and causing extensive damage to the body of the Pajero that was carrying Tsvangirai

MDC spokesman

All the windows in Mr Tsvangirai's vehicle were said to have all been shattered and the car extensively damaged.

Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was on his way to address a presidential campaign rally about 150 km west of the capital as part of a series of meetings with supporters in preparation for presidential elections next year.

The MDC is treating the attack as an assassination attempt.

The convoy made a U-turn and the rally was cancelled.

Police unhelpful

Mr Jongwe told our BBC reporter in Harare that the police were unhelpful.

Presidential elections are due early next year

A similar incident happened in July as Mr Tsvangirai was making his way to address a rally in Bindura.

Mr Tsvangirai said after the attack that there were no plans for an election boycott.

At least 30 opposition supporters were killed in the run-up to last year's parliamentary elections in which the ruling party secured a narrow win.