Howard slams Zim
24/06/2005 11:21  - (SA)  

More than 46 000 held in Zim More than 46 000 held in Zim Zim soldiers to rebuild homes Zim soldiers to rebuild homes 200+ groups want action in Zim 200+ groups want action in Zim Toddlers crushed in Zim blitz Toddlers crushed in Zim blitz Zim promotes 'self-sustenance' Zim crackdown sparks violence Zim crackdown sparks violence Take on Zim, Straw tells Africa Take on Zim, Straw tells Africa US: Zim is 'obscene' US: Zim is 'obscene'

Sydney - African nations must take a tougher stand against evictions and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe claims removing illegal dwellings will cut crime. The action has left at least 200 000 people homeless and two children dead after their homes were bulldozed on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.

Howard said African countries were turning a blind eye to the evictions.

"Mugabe is sustained because of the patronage of some of the countries around him and I think the time has long since arrived for them to take a tougher stand," Howard said.

The prime minister was commenting on remarks by British foreign secretary Jack Straw.

"If the reports are simply half true and we believe them to be much more than half true, this is a situation of serious international concern," Straw said. "And no government which subscribes to human rights and democracy should allow this kind of thing effectively to go on under their noses," he said. - Sapa-dpa

 

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