Mugabe 'killing his own people'

2008-07-07 14:59

Pretoria - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Monday said Robert Mugabe had "turned the weapons of the state on his own people" and urged the world to support fresh sanctions against his regime.

In a speech at a university during a three-day visit to South Africa, Miliband accused the 84-year-old Zimbabwean leader of unleashing "a campaign of unchecked brutality against his own people".

"He has turned the weapons of the state on his own people," Miliband told an audience at the University of South Africa.

He reiterated Britain's call for a "transitional government based on the 29 March election".

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai finished ahead of Mugabe in the March 29 first round of the election, but with an official vote total just short of an outright majority.

Transitional government

Miliband said: "For the British government, the way out is clear. We will argue this in the United Nations this week. There needs to be a transitional government based on the 29 March election in Zimbabwe."

He added: "The world community needs to unite with the UN, not only to condemn violence but to initiate further sanctions on the regime ..."

Miliband, speaking to reporters after his speech, said "the most important sanctions are travel and financial sanctions, which hit hard the top of the regime because they are the people profiting from the abuse and intimidation that is taking place".

Tsvangirai pulled out of the June 27 run-off five days ahead of the poll, citing rising violence against his supporters that left dozens dead and thousands injured.

Zim crisis 'affects' southern Africa

Defying international and regional calls to postpone the election, Mugabe pushed ahead with the vote, which predictably handed him a landslide victory.

Mugabe, who had ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, had said he was open to talks with the opposition but only if they accept him as president.

The MDC, which also won a majority in parliament over Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, insisted it had a mandate to head up any government.

South African President Thabo Mbeki had sought to find a negotiated solution to the crisis, but had faced heavy criticism over his quiet diplomacy approach.

Asked about Mbeki's role, Miliband said Mbeki was "an extremely experienced politician" who did not need advice.

The foreign secretary visited Zimbabwean refugees at a church after arriving in South Africa on Sunday and warned that the crisis in the neighbouring country was "infecting the whole of southern Africa".

- AFP