INSTANT VIEW: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai abandons poll

(Reuters) - Below is reaction to the announcement by Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he is pulling out of the June 27 presidential election run-off against President Robert Mugabe.

SUSAN BOOYSEN, POLITICAL ANALYST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE

WITWATERSRAND

"It is unfortunate because they (the MDC) were forced into it. But I can completely understand it given that these were elections going nowhere.

"By withdrawing now I think they are making the point strongly of the illegitimacy of these elections and the futility of going into the elections given that it will not bring democratic government.

"This does hand Mugabe the election on a platter and make Mugabe the constitutionally, legally elected president of the country, but on the other hand this election is a farce.

"There is no chance at all of this election being declared free and fair.

"Even if the MDC has been "allowed" to win this election by ZANU-PF...there is no way that election would have brought the MDC to power because it is a really a military junta that is governing that country.

"Now with the MDC withdrawing I think it is back to negotiations."