Mugabe rival's convoy 'shot at'

Tsvangirai was not injured in the alleged shooting incident

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- A convoy carrying Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been shot at, his party has claimed.

The incident, which happened on Friday after an illegal rally of Tsvangirai's supporters, is being blamed on government police by opposition officials.

Official police sources deny an incident took place.

"Police shot twice at Morgan Tsvangirai's convoy in Maringire village which is about 70 km (43 miles) from Masvingo," an opposition spokesman told Reuters.

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"No one was injured. Mr. Tsvangirai is continuing with his planned rally in the city."

He said prior to the incident police dispersed a group of villagers who had gathered around the convoy during a brief stopover on the way to the southern city of Masvingo.

Police chief spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said he was unaware of the incident but would make checks.

A police spokesman in Masvingo also said he had heard of no incident.

Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is the main challenger to President Robert Mugabe's 22-year grip on power in elections set for March 9-10.

The MDC says more than 100 of its supporters have been killed in political violence since February 2000 when militants loyal to Mugabe began invading white-owned farms.

The government has denied responsibility for the violence and accused the opposition of fuelling civil unrest.

The alleged shooting incident came as the leader of a team of Southern African election observers said he had been assured that the police and other security forces would act professionally.

Duke Lefoko, speaking in Harare ahead of the arrival this weekend of a 50-member observer team from the Southern African Development Community, said recent political violence threatened chances for a free and fair election.

President Mugabe faces an election challenege from Tsvangirai

"We trust that the pledge made by the Zimbabwe government...to ensure a conducive electoral atmosphere, including a commitment to investigate fully and impartially all cases of alleged political violence, shall be undertaken ahead of the elections," he said.

Mugabe, meanwhile, has ridiculed European Union sanctions against him and ruling party leaders.

Responding to sanctions imposed on Monday, Mugabe said he would not yield to international pressure to abandon his land seizure programme.

"We must be prepared to withstand all these actions by Britain and its allies. The moment we start crying, then we are yielding," Mugabe told a campaign rally in western Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the radio reported.

On Friday, the Organization of African Unity expressed regret over the EU's decision to withdraw election monitors.

OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy told the Associated Press: "While understanding the circumstances that led to the decision to impose targeted travel and economic sanctions, the secretary-general deeply regrets this development as it could serve as a distraction from the desire to ensure the holding of credible elections in Zimbabwe."

The decision to impose sanctions "could have serious negative implications for the political and economic situation within Zimbabwe itself and in the neighbouring states of Africa," the statement added.