Mugabe Hears Little Rebuke From Neighbors

Zimbabwe's President Attends African Union Summit Day After Being Sworn In After Dubious Re-Election

(CBS/AP)  Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe joined an African summit Monday looking for a boost of political legitimacy after a re-election condemned by world leaders. His fellow African leaders appeared unlikely to strongly criticize him, hoping to quietly find a resolution to the crisis.

The African Union summit got under way in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik a day after Mugabe was sworn in as president for a sixth term after a widely discredited runoff in which he was the only candidate. His main rival has dismissed the inauguration as "an exercise in self-delusion," and many world leaders have called the runoff a sham.

Though Zimbabwe was expected to be one of the main focuses of the AU summit, African leaders were not expected to publicly denounce Mugabe and instead gently urge him to engage in some sort of power-sharing agreement.

A draft resolution written by AU foreign ministers during two days of talks before the summit did not criticize the runoff election or Mugabe. The draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, condemned violence in general terms and called for dialogue.

But harsher words were spoken by U.N. deputy secretary-general, Asha-Rose Migiro, who called the situation an "extremely grave crisis."

"This is the single greatest challenge... in southern Africa, not only because of its terrible humanitarian consequences but also because of the dangerous political precedent it sets," she told delegates during an opening address.

Mugabe has threatened to point fingers at African leaders if they speak out against him. The Zimbabwe government newspaper The Herald reported Monday that Mugabe "was prepared to face any of his AU counterparts disparaging Zimbabwe's electoral conduct because some of their countries had (a) worse elections record."

African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping told delegates that Africans should "shoulder the responsibility" of helping Zimbabwe - but he did not criticize Mugabe or speak harshly about the crisis.

Africa should "do everything in its power to help the Zimbabwe parties to work together in the supreme interests in their country so as to overcome its current challenges," he said.

Electoral officials said Sunday that Mugabe won 85 percent of the vote in Friday's runoff, which observers said was marred by violence and intimidation. Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai had dropped out of the runoff after a campaign of state-sponsored violence against his supporters.

Just hours after he was declared the winner, Mugabe, who has been Zimbabwe's leaders since independence in 1980, sounded a conciliatory note.

"Sooner or later, as diverse political parties, we shall start serious talks," he said in a speech following his swearing-in Sunday. He also had promised talks on the eve of the vote.

Many world leaders have condemned Friday's runoff. On Monday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France had "decided that this government is illegitimate" and called the re-election of Mugabe a "farce."

President Bush has said the U.S. was working on ways to further punish Mugabe and his allies. That could mean steps against his government as well as additional restrictions on the travel and financial activities of Mugabe supporters. The U.S. has financial and travel penalties in place against more than 170 citizens and entities with ties to Mugabe, the White House says.

Mr. Bush also wants the U.N. Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe as well as travel bans on Zimbabwe government officials.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Beijing on Monday, urged China to back U.N. Security Council action to punish Zimbabwe's leaders, saying the time for mere statements was over. But Beijing showed little sign of being prepared to support upcoming U.S. proposals.

Chinese officials have offered little to prompt optimism in Washington for planned tough new action over Zimbabwe, a Chinese ally and trading partner in Africa.

Rice said Washington agrees with China that African nations need to play a bigger role, but said additional action is needed.

"We'd like the Africans to take the lead but it is not an African issue alone. It is also an issue for the Security Council," she said. "When we go to the U.N. we're going to need something that is not just another statement."

China holds a veto in the Security Council and its backing, along with that of Russia, will be essential to any move to penalize Mugabe and his top aides for allegedly instigating political violence.

After meeting Rice, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Beijing favors negotiations between Mugabe.

"The most pressing path is to stabilize the situation in Zimbabwe," Yang said at a news conference with Rice on Sunday. "We hope the parties concerned can engage in serious dialogue to find a proper solution."

Rice says the U.S. plans to introduce a resolution in the council this week. The U.S. holds the council's presidency until July 1, but appears to face an uphill battle in getting several important members to agree to any penalties against Zimbabwe.

[keithle1]

How many non-dictators can you name in sub-Saharan Africa? The selfless leaders who put the people of their countries first.

What has the great, noble Mugabe done for the people of Zimbabwe since he "threw the racist white minority out of Zimbabwe" 30 years ago, milesbrown49?

Inflation rate = the highest in the world.
Unemployment = 80%.
Life expectancy = 36.

Starvation.

I guess milesbrown49 is Black. He has that disease that lots of Black have. Refusal to criticize a black person no matter what. They''d rather poke out their eyes than do that.

You know, a lightning bolt won''t come down & strike you if you criticize a Black person. You''re allowed to do that. Try it. Mugabe & his thugs won''t be able to track you down. Feel free to speak your mind.

I know you don''t really think Mugabe is the greatest thing since sliced bread. He''s not paying you to come on here is he? A trillion Zim dollars per paragraph.

[mairesa]

my link got cut off:
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/bhekinkosimoyo
* Zimbabwe Violence reminiscent of Gukurahundi massacres

[mairesa]

To say Zim is faced with a ''humanitarian crisis'' is a pathetic joke .. it is criminal for this situation to be ALLOWED to continue as it has since Mugabe came to power .... it''s also criminal for world powers to turn away and not do anything http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/bhekinkosimoyo

[milesbrown49]

drinuk: Are you kidding??? Everytime a black leader takes controll, you call him a tyrant. He killed hundreds of thousand''s of people, he cut off arms legs and hands, he tyrant, he dictator.

Shut the hell up. Where and when did these North Koreans kill these Africans? Shut up liar. Sick of you lying low lifes trying to controll the resources of Africa. If North Korea killed the Zimbabewians, they are our ally now. Mugabwe threw the racist white minorty out of Zimbabwe and thats why he is under attack. China does worst to their people and we alow them to get rich and poisen us at the same time. You are such a liar!!!

[keithle1]

The stuff that goes on in Zimbabwe & lots of other two-bit, going-nowhere-fast African countries will be going on 100 years from now. It''s never going to change.

Q: How long can sub-Saharan Africa keep blaming the white colonials for all of your problems?

A: Forever

[keithle1]

hot4real is the funniest comedian working in show business today. I love him.

How do you like your white person? Pink on the inside?

[keithle1]

The black man does not want to criticize another black man. You see that here in the USA.

[juwboy]

What is the non-African world expecting?

Do they really believe that this collection of dictators, tyrants, genocidal maniacs and products of rigged voting are going to pass a resolution expelling Zimbabwe from the African Union until it holds free and fair elections?

Dream on!!!

[terrorislamj]

HUSSEIN BELONGED TO A CHURCH THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITE US,,,

HUSSEIN STAFFS HIS CAMPAIGN WITM MEMBERS OF THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN STAFFS HIS CAMPAIGN WITM MEMBERS OF THE NATION OF TERRORISLAM THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN IS A RACIST WHICH DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

[harpoot]

A lot of these African leaders are crooks themselves so of course they wouldn''t make any waves. It''d be like Congress investigating legalized bribing aka lobbying. Ain''t gonna happen.

[ausus-2009]

RandyNason,

There is a difference between a dubious result in Florida where nobody was beaten up, jailed or killed and what happened in Zimbabwe. In the recent "election" in Zimbabwe there was ONE candidate running. To link an honorable man like Senator McCain with Mugabe is a disgusting slur.

[randynason]

For Bush to call Mugabe a dictator and the election a farce is something Bush should know plenty about. Rather than a criticism, the statement comes across more like a roast at a special dinner party. Maybe Mugabe will be McCain''s choice for VP pick.

[ringading3]

This is Africa, let them kill one another, it is none of our business.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Disregard this little Liberal troll. He brings no intellectual weight to the table....That is a VERY good example of the Left''s attempt to stifle opposing views."

Posted by DemWatcher

Looks like you are the one attempting to stifle debate here, with weightless intellect.

[demwatcher]

"Posted by FeelFree4U at 10:52 PM : Jun 30, 2008"

Disregard this little Liberal troll. He brings no intellectual weight to the table.

Mugabe is what you can get in America if the Left takes over. Want proof? Try reading the Fairness Doctrine in it''s entirety. That is a VERY good example of the Left''s attempt to stifle opposing views.

[drinuk]

Oh! God, there are some stupid comments on here from people who know nothing.

For over 20 years Mugabe spent the millions he recieved in Aid from the people he now calls Imperialists to fund a North Korean Army regiment, who on his orders slaughtered over ten thousand Matabele people in the South of Zimbabwe.

The rest of the countries wealth has been spent around the World on Property and Franchises so that come the day it all falls apart his followers will apply for asylum to all the countries where investments have been made with our money and Guess where they will come ???? The American government knows which American Corporates have taken the cash belonging to the people of Zimbabwe, They should confiscate it NOW, prior to Mugabe''s death or downfall.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "President Bush did not have Senators Gore and Kerry beaten up, repeatedly jailed and forced out of the country. He did not take over all media (or else you and I would not be able to be on this blog). He did not take away the property of Democrats and give it to members of his family."

Posted by ausus

That''s exactly why I feel that Mr. Mugabe would really round out the ticket.

Bush/Mugabe in ''08!

[ausus-2009]

FeelFree4U,

Yet another stupid statement from you. President Bush did not have Senators Gore and Kerry beaten up, repeatedly jailed and forced out of the country. He did not take over all media (or else you and I would not be able to be on this blog). He did not take away the property of Democrats and give it to members of his family. Learn more about Zimbabwe and its brutal dictator before you try to make comparisons.

[feelfree4u]

Bush/Mugabe in ''08!

[rushlimpdrug]

tmn123- No...it says something about the West''''s financial system and the IMF.

Posted by whitemale08 at 07:33 PM


like tmn123 said . .