G8 'pushes' international racism

2008-07-09 11:45

Harare - Robert Mugabe's regime Wednesday branded G8 leaders' threat of more sanctions "international racism" and a bid to force out the Zimbabwe president following his widely condemned one-man election.

After Group of Eight industrial powers meeting in Japan rejected the legitimacy of Mugabe's government and promised action against his regime, Zimbabwe's information minister said the move defied the people's will.

"For them to say that Zimbabwe's government and President Mugabe's election are not legitimate is an attempt to impose a government on the people of Zimbabwe against their will," said Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

"Nowhere in international law is there provision for a group of countries to sit down as private club to decide the legitimacy of governments of sovereign states. This is international racism," he added.

'We'll take further steps'

G8 leaders wrangled intensely over how to send Mugabe a strong message, resulting in Russia succumbing to pressure from France, Germany, Britain and the United States to agree to imposing targeted measures.

"We do not accept the legitimacy of any government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people," G8 leaders said in a statement on Tuesday at their summit.

"We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for the violence."

Debate over sanctions would shift to the United Nations Security Council, and the United States said on Tuesday that it was confident new measures would be adopted this week despite objections from South Africa and Russia.

The proposed sanctions included a travel ban and an assets freeze on Mugabe and 13 of his cronies as well as an arms embargo on the Harare regime.

A resolution required nine votes out of 15 and no veto from any of the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.

AU leaders call for dialogue

In a sign that tough negotiations lied ahead, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said elements of the US draft were "quite excessive" and clearly "in conflict with the notion of sovereignty" of a UN member state.

He also questioned whether the crisis spawned by Zimbabwe's June 27 election boycotted by the opposition due to rising violence amounted to a threat to international peace.

Churkin further said the statement from G8 leaders did not use the word sanctions.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the presidential run-off five days before the poll, saying dozens of his supporters had been killed and thousands injured by Mugabe thugs.

He finished ahead of Mugabe in the March 29 first round, but with an official vote total short of an outright majority.

African Union leaders had called for dialogue between Zimbabwe's political parties and the formation of a national unity government.

Tsvangirai had dismissed unity government calls and wanted a transitional arrangement that would lead to fresh elections, while Mugabe had said he must be accepted as president before any talks.

- AFP