Zimbabwean opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai accused government supporters today of killing three members of his Movement for Democratic Change in attacks linked to forthcoming presidential elections.
Mr Tsvangirai said the three had all been killed since the weekend by militant backers of President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party. Mr Tsvangirai poses a strong challenge to President Mugabe in presidential elections set for March.
ZANU-PF officials were not immediately available for comment on the allegations.
"Three MDC people have been killed in attacks...and it is obvious now that ZANU-PF is not going to retreat from its campaign of violence as we head towards the elections," Mr Tsvangirai said.
Trymore Midzi, an MDC official in the district of Bindura, died in hospital on Monday after being attacked by ZANU-PF supporters last Friday, Mr Tsvangirai said.
He said MDC activists Titus Nheya and Milton Chambati were also killed by ruling party supporters in the Mashonaland West province at the weekend.
State radio said government officials have accused MDC youths of attacking ZANU-PF supporters in the party's rural strongholds.
A police spokesman said he could only confirm Chambati's death.
"It was a politically-motivated murder. There was a fight and he was stabbed. The people involved have been arrested," the spokesman said, declining to give any further details.
On Saturday, Mr Tsvangirai urged southern African governments and the rest of the international community to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
He told an MDC conference President Mugabe was using rogue elements of war veterans, ZANU-PF youths and army personnel in a campaign of violence ahead of the elections.