- News>
- World
Blair: Commonwealth majority opposes lifting Mugabe suspension
Abuja (Nigeria), Dec 07: British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted today that most Commonwealth leaders want to stand firm on Zimbabwe`s suspension from the club of Britain and its former colonies, denying the bloc was split along racial lines.
Abuja (Nigeria), Dec 07: British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted today that most Commonwealth leaders want to
stand firm on Zimbabwe's suspension from the club of Britain
and its former colonies, denying the bloc was split along
racial lines.
Despite Blair's assertion, other heads of state suggested
the 52-nation Commonwealth summit remained broadly divided on
President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.
The suspension was imposed last year after Mugabe was widely accused of using force and fraud to steal re-election, maintaining his more than two-decade rule of the troubled South African nation.
"The vast majority of the countries are on the same side - which is one of revulsion of what is happening in Zimbabwe and a determination that Zimbabwe should remain suspended from the Commonwealth," Blair said.
Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and some other pacific nations are adamant on maintaining Zimbabwe's suspension until Mugabe embraces democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
Several African and other developing nations are insisting that dialogue, not isolation, will bring reforms in Zimbabwe, and want the suspension lifted.
Hoping to bridge divisions, a panel of Commonwealth leaders, from India, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Mozambique and South Africa, debated today how best to re-engage Mugabe, and decide whether, and when, the suspension against him should be lifted.
Bureau Report
The suspension was imposed last year after Mugabe was widely accused of using force and fraud to steal re-election, maintaining his more than two-decade rule of the troubled South African nation.
"The vast majority of the countries are on the same side - which is one of revulsion of what is happening in Zimbabwe and a determination that Zimbabwe should remain suspended from the Commonwealth," Blair said.
Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and some other pacific nations are adamant on maintaining Zimbabwe's suspension until Mugabe embraces democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
Several African and other developing nations are insisting that dialogue, not isolation, will bring reforms in Zimbabwe, and want the suspension lifted.
Hoping to bridge divisions, a panel of Commonwealth leaders, from India, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Mozambique and South Africa, debated today how best to re-engage Mugabe, and decide whether, and when, the suspension against him should be lifted.
Bureau Report