Johannesburg - The situation in Zimbabwe is now out of control, ANC president Jacob Zuma told a conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday. "You now need a political arrangement there and then further down the line an election," he said.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has vowed to press ahead with Friday's run-off presidential election despite growing international condemnation. Speaking to supporters, he said London and Washington could "shout as loud as they like" but the vote would be held.

Dar Es Salaam - Southern African leaders will on Wednesday hold an emergency summit over the political crisis in Zimbabwe, the Tanzanian presidency said. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) summit in the Swaziland capital Mbanane will discuss "the political crisis in Zimbabwe", it said in a statement.

Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe told a rally on Tuesday "we will proceed with our election" and accused the opposition leader of seeking to withdraw because he was scared of losing.

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday that Zimbabwe's government cannot be considered legitimate without a fair run-off in its presidential election.

Harare - Police raided the Zimbabwe's opposition party's headquarters and took away about 60 people on Monday, said a spokesperson a day after the party's presidential candidate withdrew from a run-off against Robert Mugabe.

Pensacola - Democrat Barack Obama's race will complicate his White House bid, Americans say in both interviews and a poll showing that nearly a third of them acknowledge feeling racial prejudice.