WORLD> Africa
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WORLD> Africa
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Police raid Zimbabwe opposition headquarters
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-24 12:58 Tsvangirai "asked if the Dutch Embassy could provide him with refuge because he was feeling unsafe," Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen told the British Broadcasting Corp.
The prospect of such an election drew strong criticism from the international community. But Zimbabwe's increasingly autocratic ruler showed little concern for the world's opinion — his police entered opposition headquarters Monday even as foreign election observers watched. Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa said most of those taken away were women and children seeking refuge after fleeing state-sponsored political violence. He said police also seized computers and furniture. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said 39 people were taken into custody as part of an investigation into political violence. He said they were taken to what he called a "rehabilitation center" for interviews.
Condemnation of Mugabe poured in from the US, Europe and elsewhere. "In forsaking the most basic tenet of governance, the protection of its people, the government of Zimbabwe must be held accountable by the international community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement. "The current government, with no parliamentary majority, having lost the first round of the presidential elections and holding power only because of violence and intimidation, is a regime that should not be recognized by anyone," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said because of the violence, a runoff now ""would only deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible." Most of the council's negotiations were conducted privately. Members met openly for less than a half-hour to get an update on what is happening in Zimbabwe from UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe. He said ample evidence shows Mugabe's government is waging a "widespread campaign of retaliation and threat" and spreading "fear, hostility and attacks" against its opponents. US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, this month's council president, read aloud the council's presidential statement on Zimbabwe. Though non-binding, it serves as a warning to Mugabe that he runs the risk of incurring a more serious, binding council resolution if he does proceed with the election. Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election on March 29, but did not gain an outright majority against Mugabe. That campaign was generally peaceful, but the runoff has been overshadowed by violence and intimidation, especially in rural areas. Independent human rights groups say 85 people have died and tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes, most of them opposition supporters. In Harare, David Coltart, a prominent opposition party member, said that not only had Tsvangirai sought refuge at the Dutch Embassy, but other top leaders had also gone underground. Militant groups roamed the capital Monday and cars and buses displayed Mugabe posters and fliers. One motorist said he hung a Mugabe party bandanna on his car mirror in hopes it would protect him from attacks. Roy Bennett, treasurer of Tsvangirai's party, speaking to The Associated Press in Johannesburg, called on the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to launch negotiations aimed at bringing members of the opposition and moderate members of Mugabe's ZANU-PF party together in a transitional authority that would create conditions for free and fair presidential voting. He said Mugabe would not be welcome on the transitional authority or in a future government. South African President Thabo Mbeki has been mediating between Mugabe and Tsvangirai for more than a year under Southern African Development Community auspices. Mbeki has refused to criticize Mugabe, saying confronting him could close the door to talks. But other African leaders have shown increasing unease, and South Africa was under pressure to speak out. |
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