Zimbabwe goes to the polls

Zimbabweans began lining up before dawn today for crucial elections where President Robert Mugabe faces the toughest challenge to his 28-year rule and the opposition is urging its supporters to defend their votes against an alleged ballot-rigging plot.

Tensions rose yesterday when the military put on a show of force, with soldiers and police in a convoy of armored personnel carriers and water cannon patrolling through downtown Harare, the capital, and the security chiefs warning against violence.