Kill and rioter- police told

Zimbabwe's police chief Augustine Chihuri said Tuesday his
force was prepared to use firearms to stamp out violence during joint
presidential and legislative elections next month.

Chihuri said police could invoke the public order and security act which
allows an officer to use a firearm "if he finds other methods to be
ineffective or inappropriate."

Chihuri urged political parties to abide by the law to avoid clashes with
police in the run-up to joint presidential, parliamentary, senate and local
council polls March 29.

"In certain circumstances we are also empowered to use force including use
of firearms," he told journalists at police headquarters in the capital
Harare.

In December, President Robert Mugabe urged his supporters to refrain from
violence in the polls and similar exhortations by opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai at the launch of his party's election campaign Saturday.

"There has been talk in some opposition circles and civic organizations of
street protests or Kenya-style riots if the ballot does not go in favor of
one's political party," police Chihuri said.

"Machetes, axes, bows and arrows cannot put anybody into office. We will
never allow that to happen in this country.

"We will nip it in the bud. We are adequately resourced to cover this
election."

In Kenya, at least 1,500 people have died and tens of thousands have been
displaced since Dec. 27, when post-election violence erupted after
allegations of vote-rigging.

Zimbabwe's security forces have in recent years used brute force to break up
protests by Mugabe's opponents.

The country's last presidential elections in 2002, won by Mugabe amid claims
of vote rigging, were marred by widespread violence which left several
people dead and thousands injured.

Earlier this month police banned the carrying of dangerous weapons in public
to prevent violence.