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Four MDC youths killed in Zimbabwe

Harare - MDC believes 70 of its supporters have died in recent violence
Harare - MDC believes 70 of its supporters have died in recent violence

Four Zimbabwe opposition activists have been found dead near Harare ahead of next week's presidential election.

The opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, has blamed the deaths on the ruling party.

The four MDC youth members were abducted on Tuesday and their bodies were discovered in various locations in Chitungwiza, southeast of Harare, according to a party spokesman.

The MDC suspects that the four were beaten after being attacked at a local councillor's residence by ZANU-PF youth supporters armed with clubs and whips.

MDC says up to 70 opposition supporters have now been killed since the first round of elections on 29 March.

The party says the situation in the country is getting worse and that a free and fair election is impossible.

President Robert Mugabe has blamed the MDC for mounting violence ahead of the 27 June run-off election and has threatened to arrest opposition leaders over it.

The MDC says the ruling party unleashed a campaign of  intimidation after the first round in March, with party leader  Morgan Tsvangirai claiming the country is now run by what is  essentially a 'military junta'.

The UN has blamed Mr Mugabe's supporters for the bulk of the violence.