Merkel to press Mbeki on Zim

2007-10-05 13:39

Pretoria - Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected to urge South African President Thabo Mbeki in talks on Friday to increase pressure for a resolution to the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Merkel, who flew in late on Thursday from Ethiopia on the second leg of her first tour of sub-Saharan Africa, was accorded a 21-gun salute as she arrived at the Union Buildings in Pretoria before entering talks with her host.

German sources said Merkel was determined to press Mbeki, who has been tasked by regional leaders to mediate between the government and opposition in Zimbabwe, to do more to ensure an end to alleged human rights abuses and allow for free elections next year across South Africa's northern border.

The situation in Zimbabwe has cast a shadow over preparations for a summit between European Union and African Union leaders in Lisbon in December, with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown threatening to stay away if President Robert Mugabe attends.

In a speech at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa on Thursday which centred on human rights, Merkel highlighted the situation in Zimbabwe.

"The crisis in Zimbabwe is an example of such violations. We are deeply concerned about the developments there, about threats and oppression of the opposition ... and ongoing human rights violations," she said.

"We shouldn't watch that development without doing anything."

Merkel said the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc should all work together to pressure Mugabe.

"I see mainly the states of SADC, which means the neighbours of Zimbabwe, being responsible."

- AFP