Two people died after they clashed with law enforcement agents during an opposition Movement for Democratic Change organized week long demonstration to force President Mugabe to resign.

Police said one of the casualties was a ruling party supporter, while the other was an opposition MDC supporter. While the United States and Britain criticized President Mugabe's administration for its heavy-handedness in dealing with the demonstrators, the Government, on the hand, defended its position, saying that the demonstration was illegal.

A day before the start of the demonstrations, police obtained an order interdicting the opposition party from engaging in the demonstration on the grounds that the demonstrations were unlawful. The police then used that order to prevent MDC supporters from demonstrating, arresting at least 100 people.

Harare, the capitol of Zimbabwe, resembled a ghost town on Monday as the central business center was deserted after people stayed home. Business also ground to a halt as most companies did not open out of fear the demonstration might turn violent. A few of those who turned up for work found the premises to their work places closed.

There were running battles between the police and supporters of the opposition in most of the black townships in Harare, as the supporters tried to march to town where they wanted to proceed to State House-the official residence of President Mugabe. However, the week progressed, more and more people turned up for work, ignoring the call by the MDC to embark on a demonstration to remove President Mugabe from power.

Presidents Thbao Mbeki of South Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Bakhili Muluzi of Malawi were recently in Harare to try and bring Mr. Mugabe's party and the opposition, led by Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, to dialogue. But President Mugabe said the attempt by Mr. Tsvangirai to remove him from power by force was an insult to efforts being done by African heads of State to bring them to a negotiating table.

The opposition has insists that Mr. Mugabe is an illegitimate head of state, as elections that re-elected him in the 2002 Presidential election were allegedly marred by violence and rigging. Mr. Mugabe, on the other hand, maintains that he can only negotiate with the opposition if they start recognizing him as the legitimate President of Zimbabwe.


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