Johannesburg/Harare, June 27, SPA -- Polling stations opened in ZimbabweFriday morning in a presidential election branded a "sham" by theopposition and the West after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangiraiwithdrew from the contest, according to DPA. Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off poll citing fears for thesafety of MDC supporters, leaving longtime President Robert Mugabe asthe only candidate. Several polling stations in the capital Harare opened shortlyafter 7 am (0600 GMT) but some had yet to open their doors, witnessessaid. Early signs pointed to a low turnout in the capital - anopposition stronghold - with only a handful of voters waiting to casttheir vote at most polling stations visited by a DeutschePresse-Agentur dpa correspondent. Several million Zimbabweans are registered to vote at around 1,962polling stations nationwide. Tsvangirai and the US ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, haveaccused Mugabe of deploying the military and militia to "frogmarch"voters to the polls in an attempt to produce a large turnout. InHarare some people expressed fears their thumbs would be checked forthe indelible red ink that proves they voted, according to DPA. Tsvangirai withdrew from the contest over a spate ofstate-sponsored militia attacks on MDC supporters since the firstround of voting for president on March 29, in which Tsvangirai tookmore votes than Mugabe but not enough for an outright victory. TheMDC says around 90 of its supporters have been killed, DPA reported.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/568867