Mugabe opponents urge summit snub
- 00:00:24
- ITN
Mugabe opponents urge summit snub
Opponents of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are calling on African Union leaders to snub him at a summit in Egypt.The 84-year-old has been sworn in as Zimbabwe's president for a sixth time following an election in which he was the only candidate.In the resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh, the AU's heads of state are likely to press him to enter talks with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to end the political crisis in a country whose economy, wrecked by hyperinflation, has produced millions of refugees.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he hopes the African leaders "will make it absolutely clear that there has got to be change" in his country.He said: "I think the message that is coming from the whole world is that the so-called elections will not be recognised."People want the violence and intimidation to end. A new government has got to be brought in."Mr Tsvangirai, who won the first round of the election in March, pulled out of the run-off because of a campaign of terror waged by Mr Mugabe's henchmen. However, his name remained on the ballot papers because electoral authorities refused to accept his withdrawal.Official figures from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission showed Mr Mugabe with 2,150,269 votes, or 85.51 per cent, compared to 233,000 for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. There were 131,481 spoilt ballots.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged support for international action against Mr Mugabe's government, including UN-authorised sanctions and an arms embargo.Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga was quoted as saying that the AU should deploy troops.He said: "What is happening in Zimbabwe is a shame and an embarrassment to Africa in the eyes of the international community and should be denounced."But AU security chief Ramtane Lamamra played down the prospects of peacekeepers being sent.Mr Tsvangirai has said his party is also committed to AU-sponsored talks, although no negotiations have started. But he added he would ask the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe's re-election.Mr Tsvangirai said: "I can't give support to an exercise I'm totally opposed to... the whole world has condemned it, the Zimbabwean people will not give this exercise legitimacy and support."US president George Bush has called the election it a sham and said new sanctions will be imposed on an illegitimate government.He said he would call on the UN to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and a travel ban on its officials.
ITN | June 30, 2008
