Brown: 'World united over Zimbabwe'

Updated 22.22 Tue Jul 08 2008
Keywords: G8, Japan, Gordon Brown, MDC, Zanu-PF, Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, summit, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe

The international community is united in its condemnation of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Gordon Brown has said.

The leaders of the G8 - Britain, the US, Canada, France, Russia, Italy, Germany and Japan - are holding a three-day summit in Japan and have backed fresh sanctions against Zimbabwe.

It shows the unanimity of the whole international community, reflecting the outrage people feel about the violence and the intimidation and the illegitimate holding of power by the Mugabe government" - Gordon Brown

Mr Brown said: "This is the strongest possible statement. It shows the unanimity of the whole international community, reflecting the outrage people feel about the violence and the intimidation and the illegitimate holding of power by the Mugabe government."

The formal statement, which follows a violent election that extended Mr Mugabe's 28-year rule, said: "We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for violence."

"We deplore the fact that the Zimbabwean authorities pressed ahead with the presidential election despite the absence of appropriate conditions for free and fair voting as a result of their systematic violence, obstruction and intimidation.

"We do not accept the legitimacy of any government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people."

The statement did not give further details as to what the steps might be. Last Thursday, the US said it expected the UN Security Council to vote this week on sanctions against Mr Mugabe and his top aides.

The G8 leaders also recommended UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to appoint a special envoy for Zimbabwe.

The African dictator was the only candidate in the June 27 run-off election after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out, citing state-sponsored violence against candidates and supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change party.

Earlier, Zimbabwe's state media reported that Zanu-PF, Mr Mugabe's ruling party, and the MDC were to resume talks under the mediation of South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Mr Tsvangirai has said the opposition will not participate in any negotiations until Mr Mugabe's government halts political violence against his supporters and accepts that he won the election in the first round of voting on March 29.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.