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Zim 'needs African solution'
01/06/2007 21:16 - (SA)
Pretoria - The political crisis in Zimbabwe needs to be resolved by fellow African governments, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday after talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Speaking at a joint press conference after they held talks, Blair said that Britain supported Mbeki's role to mediate between veteran Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
"What's important is to improve the conditions of the people of Zimbabwe ... We will do whatever we can to improve the lot of the people of Zimbabwe," said Blair, who has been an arch critic of Mugabe.
"The solution is an African solution for Zimbabwe, that's why I welcome" Mbeki's mediation efforts.
Mbeki was tasked in March by fellow leaders from the South African Development Community (SADC) to mediate between the Mugabe regime and opposition after several leaders of the MDC were assaulted by the security services.
Mbeki, who has refused to publicly criticise Mugabe, said that the mediation efforts were under way but gave no details on any progress.
SADC agreed that "we should help to facilitate discussions between the government and ruling party and opposition to find a solution to those problems ... we are engaged in that process now", he told reporters.
Blair has been regularly accused of seeking regime change by Mugabe, who has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980.
In a speech on Thursday, Blair said the international community should be ready to fund the rebuilding of a "shattered" Zimbabwe after "decades of repression".
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
