The Guardian's Chris McGreal has filed a grim report from rural Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe's goons have launched Operation Makavhoterapapi, or "Where did you put your cross?" in the local language. The operation amounts to a campaign of violence and intimidation against suspected opposition supporters, and in some cases even their children. Singled out for reprisals are those who did not vote at polling places that were known to be monitored by Mugabe loyalists. Said one victim:

When they were beating me they wanted to know why I didn't go to their polling station. They said to me: there we could see how you put your vote, if you vote in the other place it's secret and that means you voted for the opposition. They said they knew how people voted in that polling station from the figures and it wasn't for Zanu-PF."

Meanwhile, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has changed his mind and will contest a runoff election against Mugabe. This can only get uglier.