International criticism aimed at Zimbabwe
Monday, 23 Jun 2008 14:58
There has been international criticism of Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe
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There has been widespread criticism of
Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the country's presidential runoff, claiming a free vote was impossible.
Mr Tsvangirai's announcement on Sunday effectively hands power to Mr Mugabe, much to the outrage of the international community.
In an interview with Sky News foreign secretary David Miliband claimed Mr Mugabe cannot be considered Zimbabwe's legitimate ruler.
"I think Zimbabwe is being bossed by Robert Mugabe and by his henchmen and he remains the apex of power despite the fact that the people of Zimbabwe deserted him quite a long time ago," he said.
"We have reached an absolutely critical moment in the drive by the people of Zimbabwe to rid themselves of the tyrannical rule of Robert Mugabe. He has made, and his thugs have made, an election impossible."
The opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claim some 86 people have been killed in violence leading up to the election run-off with 200,000 more displaced.
A statement from United Nations (UN) secretary Ban Ki-moon's office claimed it "deeply regrets that, respite the repeated appeals of the international community, the government of Zimbabwe has failed to put in place the conditions necessary for free and fair run-off elections".
White House spokesman Carlton Carroll said "the Mugabe regime reinforces its illegitimacy everyday".
"The senseless acts of violence against the opposition as well as election monitors must stop."
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice added that unless the UN security council acted strongly on the issue is stood to lose credibility.
Zimbabwe has been locked in a political crisis since the election of March 29th with both Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai claiming victory.