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 16 October 2008 02:36 BST

Mugabe faces African Union criticism

Monday, 30 Jun 2008 19:23
Robert Mugabe is at the meeting in Egypt
African Union (AU) leaders have increased pressure on Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe at a summit in Egypt today.

The 84-year-old is attending the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting after being sworn in for a sixth term of office this weekend.

His victory in the presidential run-off has been widely criticised by the international community after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out due to violence aimed at his supporters.

AU commission chairperson Jean Ping was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying: "Africa must fully shoulder its responsibility and do everything in its power to help the Zimbabwe parties to work together so as to overcome current challenges."

South Africa's government has demanded talks between Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has repeatedly called on the AU to take a greater role in mediating the current crisis.

And United Nations (UN) deputy secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro opened today's summit by urging the leaders to help work towards negotiation.

She claimed that this was the "moment of truth" for regional leaders on Zimbabwe.

"This is a moment of truth for regional leaders... the secretary-general urges [your] excellencies to mobilise support for a negotiated solution," she said.

Meanwhile, France's foreign minister Bernard Kouchner described the Zimbabwe election as a "farce".

And prime minister Gordon Brown added: "I hope that the African Union and its leaders will make it absolutely clear that there has to be change and a new government has got to be brought in."End of story


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