Zimbabwe’s opposition said today it was facing escalating violence in the last days before a presidential runoff pitting its leader against long-time President Robert Mugabe.

A two-day general strike got off to a slow start today with most Zimbabweans seemingly heeding police warnings not to participate in the protest against the forced removal of tens of thousands of informal traders and shack dwellers from city streets.

A two-day general strike called to protest a government crackdown on the urban poor began slowly today with a heavy police presence on the streets of Harare.