G8 leaders call for UN envoy
2008-07-09 08:33
Toyako - The Group of Eight agreed on Tuesday to tighten sanctions against Zimbabwe and press for the appointment of a special United Nations envoy.
The moves were a slap in the face of SA President Thabo Mbeki who was appointed as mediator in Zimbabwe, the Cape Times reported on Tuesday.
Mbeki was appointed by the Southern African Development Communities (SADC) to mediate between Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties.
According to reports, on Monday Mbeki was given a fierce grilling by the G8 leaders at a private meeting at which they told him they did not believe his mediation efforts were succeeding.
According to reports on AFP, Britain had called directly on Mbeki to back international efforts to isolate key figures in Zimbabwe, including his counterpart President Robert Mugabe.
Mbeki, the chief mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, had been criticised in some quarters for his so-called "quiet diplomacy" towards his neighbour and for not being tough enough on Mugabe.
- News24