`Having visited Zimbabwe last week I would have to agree with Morgan Tsvangirai that elections would be a sham and that the Zimbabwean people would be risking their lives if they chose to vote for the MDC.
`Mugabe is a tyrant that has lost all sense of humanity and from what I saw last week I think the decision of the MDC to withdraw will save many lives.

`I'm sure that Mugabe will see this as a victory. But this is a victory for tyranny not for democracy.

`President Mbeki and the SADC leadership should urgently explore the possibility of a negotiated settlement as a temporary measure.

`The ID believes that we need to look at all avenues and continue to fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. We must not give up hope,' says Ms De Lille.

De Lille visited Zimbabwe and met with the leader of the MDC last week. On her return, she said that "the conditions are not at all conducive to free and fair elections. There is absolutely no free political activity, ZANU PF's election campaign is being run by the military and police, and young militias are criss-crossing the country on a daily basis with the sole aim of intimidation and brutality".

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