HARARE -- Zimbabweans went to the presidential run-off on Friday despite the opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the race.
Tsvangirai submitted a withdrawal letter on Tuesday, citing violence and intimidation against his party as major reasons.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the withdrawal was of no legal effect because it was filed out of time.
Tsvangirai received 47.9 percent of the votes in the first round of election held on March 29, followed by President Robert Mugabe's 43.2 percent.
An outright winner needs to obtain an absolute majority of the votes, otherwise a run-off needs to be held, according to Zimbabwe's law.
Tsvangirai, who in 1999 founded the Movement for Democratic Changes (MDC), is taking refuge in the Dutch embassy, saying he feared for his safety.
Incumbent President Mugabe, 84, has been the head of state since the southern African country gained independence in 1980.
