After "what can be described as a façade election", the World Council of Churches has called for global action and the protection of Zimbabweans "against increased and continued violence".

While some African national leaders continued to court Robert Mugabe at an African Union meeting in Egypt, despite their own observers saying that the presidential election was unacceptable, South African churches have spoken candidly.

Peaceful and positive global pressure needed to bring change to Zimbabwe says a Mennonite church leader with direct experience of the situation in the conflict-torn southern African nation.

After years of private anger, masked by a diplomatic commitment not to undermine his successor as South African president, Nelson Mandela has condemned Robert Mugabe's dictatorial regime in Zimbabwe.

A student Christian leader Zimbabwe has urged the international community to intervene, following the decision of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from the presidential runoff, citing escalating violence against supporters.

After weeks of violence, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that he is pulling out of Friday's presidential election run-off, fearing massacres of his supporters and a rigged poll outcome.

Zambian and Zimbabwean Roman Catholic bishops have exhorted the government of Southern African to take much stronger action in pressuring the government in Harare to ensure a credible presidential election in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean women have told the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva they are watching a "silent genocide" unfurl in their country, as President Mugabe's reign of terror against all opposition continues apace.

Mennonite World Conference is sending two deacons to Zimbabwe and is calling for two days of global prayer and fasting to coincide with the presidential election run-off on 27 June.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu addressed a packed gathering during a short service of prayer at St Martin'-in-the-Field, in London, last night. He focussed especially upon the worsening political situation in Zimbabwe.