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UN meets over Zim
29/04/2008 23:00 - (SA)
New York - The UN Security Council met on Tuesday for its first session on Zimbabwe's election standoff in a sign of growing international impatience with President Robert Mugabe.
Checking of votes from the March 29 presidential poll was put off again on Tuesday, further delaying the day when the world will know if Mugabe is to remain in power in a once prosperous country that is now in economic meltdown.
France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert told reporters before the Security Council meeting that the fact it was being held at all would send a signal to Zimbabwe's authorities "that we are looking very carefully at what they are doing".
The situation in Zimbabwe was developing "not in a good direction", said Ripert.
"The people of Zimbabwe have expressed themselves ... We think at least the government of President Mugabe should recognise that by publishing the result of the election and accepting the result of the election."
Diplomats have said South Africa, which currently holds the Security Council presidency, was reluctant to have it take up the issue of Zimbabwe.
Several council members successfully pressed last week for a briefing by the UN secretariat.
Direct UN involvement
Ripert did not rule out that eventually the United Nations could become directly involved but said African mediation should come first.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he won the presidential election outright and there is no need for a run-off, but independent and ruling party projections pointed to a second round to decide the winner.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday it was clear Tsvangirai had won.
Western powers are likely to pour in aid and investment if victory goes to the MDC leader, analysts say.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission invited presidential candidates and their agents to verify results from May 1. The process, which had been due to start on Tuesday, could still take another week before a result can be made public.
"This exercise will pave way for the announcement of the result of the presidential election," state radio said in a notice from the commission.
Arson and violence
Opposition supporters from Zimbabwe's rural areas described a campaign of arson and violence against them since the ballot.
Vhaina Mujake had her home burned down in Mutoko district, a ruling party stronghold, forcing her to flee with her three children. She now fears they will be unable to return to school.
"What sort of people would do that to children," she said, holding back tears. Her husband remains in police custody.
A state newspaper, quoting a government statement, said one man was killed and two were injured when opposition supporters tried to attack an army camp. There was no immediate comment on the report from police or the MDC.
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