"I am not advocating for military intervention in Zimbabwe by the United Nations or any other organization," he said, adding that an article published in Britain's Guardian newspaper in his name on Wednesday did not reflect his position or opinions.
Tsvangirai said it was too early to say when he would leave the Dutch embassy.
"I am the prime target. I am not going to take chances with my safety. It's not just about Mr Mugabe, it's about the people out there who could take the law into their own hands. There is no rule of law here," Tsvangirai said.
His Movement for Democratic Change says nearly 90 of its supporters have been killed by militias loyal to Mugabe.
On Wednesday, the SADC's security troika urged the postponement of Friday's election, saying the re-election of Mugabe could lack legitimacy in the current violent climate.
Regional power South Africa added to the pressure, saying a top negotiator was in Harare mediating talks on options including postponement of the vote.
The troika, comprising African Union chairman Tanzania, Swaziland and Angola, called at its meeting near the Swazi capital Mbabane for talks between Mugabe's government and the opposition before a new run-off date was set.
It said the group had been briefed by South African President Thabo Mbeki, the designated SADC mediator on Zimbabwe.
Mbeki has been widely criticised in the past for taking a soft line with Mugabe and for not using South Africa's powerful economic leverage with landlocked Zimbabwe. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called on Wednesday for a new mediator.
The elderly Mandela, revered by many across the world for his role in ending apartheid in South Africa, rarely speaks on political issues these days but used a speech at a dinner in London to condemn a "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.
U.S. President George W. Bush said after meeting U.N. Security Council members at the White House that Friday's poll had no credibility.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, campaigning to be the first black leader of the United States, said the world must do more on Zimbabwe and singled out South Africa as a country that needed to put more pressure on Mugabe.
Mugabe has presided over a slide into economic chaos, including 80 percent unemployment and inflation estimated by experts at about 2 million percent. He blames sanctions by former colonial power Britain and other Western countries.
Millions of Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring countries to escape the economic woes of their once prosperous homeland.
