United Nations June 25 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was disturbed by an explosion during an electoral rally of the ruling party of Zimbabwe in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other party officials were present his spokesman has said.

Zimbabwean authorities said Saturday s explosion in the southern city of Bulawayo was an assassination attempt against President Mnangagwa.

The secretary-general condemned such acts of violence and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice said Stephane Dujarric the spokesman on Sunday adding. Guterres wished the injured a quick recovery Xinhua news agency reported.

The explosion took place during a campaign rally of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party at a stadium.
The President was unhurt in the explosion which injured dozens of people. Two vice presidents were reportedly among the injured.

The incident in Zimbabwe came hours after a blast that targeted a rally in Addis Ababa attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Guterres on Saturday condemned the attack that injured dozens of people in Ethiopia.

--IANS pgh/