Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s main opposition party leader, reportedly sought refuge at the Dutch Embassy in Harare after he announced yesterday his decision to withdraw from the presidential run-off leaving the country’s current President Robert Mugabe to solve the political crisis.

The move was described by the local police as a dirty political move to stir international anger and further spoil the image of the country.

Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said in a press conference that the fact that Morgan Tsvangirai sought refuge at the Dutch Embassy further brutalizes the image of Zimbabwe and also of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

"We wonder whom Mr Tsvangirai is running away or hiding from,” said Chihuri, who added that, as far as the police are concerned, Tsvangirai is not wanted for any crime.

On the other hand, Tsvangirai alleged that he sought refuge in the above mentioned embassy because he was under threat. Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade had the same opinion regarding Tsvangirai move: he was being hunted by troops and thus forced to seek refuge. Tsvangirai said the same thing in an interview at a Dutch radio station.

Tsvangirai arrived at the foreign embassy on Sunday just a few hours after he announced that he decided to withdraw from the presidential campaign. He said he made this decision because his Movement for Democratic Change supporters would have risked their lives if they cast their votes on June 27.