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UK blasts deadly Zim crackdown
12/03/2007 21:25 - (SA)
London - Britain blasted the government of Zimbabwe on Monday for its use of deadly force to crush an opposition rally, in a hard-hitting statement criticising veteran President Robert Mugabe.
Lord David Triesman, the foreign office minister for Africa, condemned the "terrible assault" and laid the blame for the "appalling" situation in Zimbabwe squarely on Mugabe's shoulders.
Zimbabwe's opposition movement vowed on Monday to push on with its drive to topple Mugabe despite the arrest of its top leaders and the force used to thwart Sunday's anti-government protest.
"I utterly condemn the violent and unwarranted action taken by the Zimbabwe government on March 11 when riot police disrupted a peaceful and legitimate gathering of Zimbabweans," said Triesman.
"One member of the leading opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, has been shot dead and others have suffered injuries.
"I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those killed and injured in this terrible assault.
"The UK holds President Mugabe and his Zimbabwe government responsible for the safety of all those detained, urges the police to allow them access to legal advice, to provide them with medical care and to arrange for their immediate release.
"This latest incident shows the urgency of changes in policy as the economy and institutions of Zimbabwe crumble.
"The situation in Zimbabwe is appalling and is a direct consequence of Mugabe's own approach and disregard for the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans."
Mugabe lays the blame for much of Zimbabwe's economic malaise on the former colonial power Britain.
- AFP
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