Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping on Monday urged all Zimbabwean stakeholders to keep restraints as the country's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai decided to quit the June 27 presidential run-off vote.
In a statement from the AU headquarters, Ping stressed the need for all Zimbabwean stakeholders to exercise restraints and reiterated his call for an immediate end to all acts of violence.
On Sunday, Tsvangirai decided to pull out of the run-off election, saying that violence had made a fair vote impossible.
Ping said in the statement that he is following closely the latest developments in the situation in Zimbabwe.
"This development and the increasing acts of violence in the run-up to the second round of the presidential election are a matter of grave concern to the AU Commission," he said.
"The chairperson of the commission has initiated consultations with the AU chairperson, as well as with the chairman of SADC (Southern Africa Development Community), the SADC mediator and other regional leaders, to determine how best the AU could assist in addressing the current situation," said the statement.
In the statement, Ping also urged all Zimbabwean parties "to work together to overcome the challenges facing their country in this critical phase of its history."
Source: Xinhua
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