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HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 22 (UPI) — Zimbabwe presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangiria said Sunday he’s pulling out of Friday’s national elections, fearing the toll of escalating violence.

“A free and fair election is impossible,” Tsvangirai told CNN, saying the political violence in the election run-up had to be stopped. He accused Mugabe’s supporters of political slayings, election rigging and targeting members of his Movement for Democratic Change party for arrests.

Tsvangirai also called on the United Nations “to intervene to restore the

rule of law, peace, and the conditions of a free and fair election,” CNN reported.

More MDC supporters have been killed in recent days, including the wife of the newly chosen mayor of Harare, who was found Wednesday beaten to death, followed the next day by the killings of four more opposition activists allegedly abducted by Mugabe supporters, The New York Times reported.

At least 85 MDC supporters have been killed ahead of the presidential election scheduled for Friday, including little-known but key MDC campaign workers whose deaths have crippled the party’s attempts to stage a competitive presidential bid.

Political violence is aimed at voters as well, targeting districts that voted for Tsvangirai in the first round.

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