Mugabe needs a 'peaceful exit'

2008-07-23 14:25

London - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe may need to be allowed a "peaceful, decent exit" to resolve the country's political crisis, Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Wednesday.

The comments by Odinga - who himself heads a government of national unity forged to resolve a crisis following disputed elections - came after talks in London with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Brown called on those taking part in negotiations involving Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to remember the importance of legitimate government in Zimbabwe.

Odinga, one of the African leaders to speak out loudest against Mugabe, welcomed negotiations if they are conducted on the basis that the March parliamentary election won by the MDC is respected.

"We know that there may be a need to find a peaceful, decent exit for President Mugabe in Zimbabwe," he said. "A decent exit would mean that Mugabe is given a role to play for an interim period of time.

"I understand that his friends are suggesting about 24 months after which elections would be held in Zimbabwe.

"But in that period of time, he can stay on as a ceremonial president, if you like, with an executive prime minister until the elections are held in Zimbabwe".

Zimbabwe's political crisis

Full-scale talks aimed at resolving Zimbabwe's months-long political crisis are expected to start on Thursday, according to state media in the African country.

Brown meanwhile said Mugabe should accept that he had not won the one-man presidential run-off held last month fairly. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of that poll citing violence against his supporters.

"I hope that those people who are conducting the negotiations can listen to the fact that Zimbabwe cannot have the respect of the international community as long as it does not have a legitimate government that can command the support of the Zimbabwean people," Brown said.

He had claimed victory in the vote, accusing President Mwai Kibaki of poll fraud, but the unrest ended in a power-sharing deal in which Kibaki kept his job and Odinga became prime minister.

- AFP