Zimbabwe Elections: Four Activists Killed in Firebomb, Says Opposition

Four opposition activists in Zimbabwe were burned to death last night after the house they were in was firebombed as violence continued ahead of next week's presidential elections.

The bodies of the four Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters were in found in the burnt-out home near Harare, their party said.

The discovery was made eight days before an election run-off between the president, Robert Mugabe, and the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Opposition spokesman Nqobizitha Mlilo said militants linked to Mugabe's party were seen in the area before the attack on the home of one of the dead activists.

Mugabe and his security officials have been accused of unleashing widespread violence to ensure victory at the polls.

Yesterday, the Guardian detailed how the election campaign had turned into a full-blown military strategy of abductions and murders of MDC activists and supporters.

"Now it's about 70 we've lost," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP.

The Times reported today that family members of opposition leaders were being targeted. It reported that in the last week the wives of three MDC officials had been murdered.

The trial of the MDC's secretary general, Tendai Biti, is expected to resume later today. He faces the death penalty if convicted of treason.