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Tutu condemns South Africa over Zimbabwe

Agencies
Wednesday 24 December 2008 09:01 GMT
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Desmond Tutu is giving his genome to science
Desmond Tutu is giving his genome to science

Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu has accused South Africa of betraying its legacy of struggling against apartheid by failing to take strong action against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed on 15 September to form a unity government. But that agreement has unravelled due to a fight over control of important ministries.

Mugabe, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, has come under increasing pressure to step down from Western countries, who say he has reneged on the deal in a bid to hold on to power.

Tutu also told the BBC in an interview that military force against Mugabe's government should not be ruled out.

"How much more suffering is going to make us say 'No we have given Mr Mugabe enough time?'," Tutu asked in an interview with the BBC's Radio 4.

While regional countries Botswana and Zambia have taken a tough line against Mugabe, most African leaders, including influential neighbour South Africa, chair of regional grouping of nations SADC and a UN Security Council member, have stopped short of calling on him to quit.

South Africa had strong historic links with Mugabe, who provided support during the struggle against apartheid.

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma called for a quick end to Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

"The New Year must bring a speedy resolution to this utterly untenable situation," said Zuma in a Christmas message.

Zimbabweans were hoping a new leadership would rescue the economy. Instead Zimbabwe has sunk deeper into crisis as the stalemate drags on.

Hyper-inflation means prices double every day, a cholera epidemic has killed more than 1,100 people and the opposition has accused the ruling party of abducting its supporters, a charge it denies.

Tutu also criticised South Africa for not taking tougher stands at the United Nations against countries with a record of human rights abuses.

"And I have to say that I am deeply, deeply distressed that we should be found not on the side of the ones who are suffering," he said.

"I certainly am ashamed of what they've done in the United Nations."

* The UK's Foreign Secretary David Miliband branded Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a "stain" on the country today and said he "has to go".

In a letter to The Times, Mr Miliband said: "Any sane person realises that Mugabe's misrule is only spurring Zimbabwe's descent into chaos.

"If Zimbabwe is to haul itself - with the help it needs and deserves - out of its current meltdown, Mugabe has to go.

"As long as Mugabe rules Zimbabwe he remains a stain on that country. I acknowledge he is also a stain on the international community, which has not been able to deliver the will of the Zimbabwean people."

The country is currently suffering from a cholera epidemic which has infected more than 18,000 people. And power-sharing negotiations with the opposition party MDC - widely thought to have won elections earlier this year - have ground to a halt.

Mr Miliband said he advocated a sanctions resolution from the United Nations, blocked last July by Russia and China. He also urged neighbouring country South Africa to do more.

"It is our strong view that this international crisis requires international attention," the Foreign Secretary said.

"It is obvious to everyone that neighbouring states, especially South Africa, have most to lose from instability in Zimbabwe and most to gain from change. That is why we continue to emphasise their role and responsibilities and to urge them to take action."

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