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Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai rejects AU proposal
Donna Bryson, Associated Press
July 02, 2008

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080702.wzimbabwe0702/BNStory/International/home

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai rejected an African Union decision to leave efforts to resolve the country's political crisis in the hands of the South African president, saying Wednesday his group would not participate without an additional mediator.

Mr. Tsvangirai was speaking to reporters at his home in Harare, a day after an African Union summit reconfirmed South Africa's Thabo Mbeki as mediator. Mr. Tsvangirai has repeatedly called on Mr. Mbeki to step down, saying Mr. Mbeki's refusal to publicly criticize Mr. Mugabe amounts to appeasement.

He said it was well known that his group, Movement for Democratic Change, has reservations about the mediation process under Mr. Mbeki.

"It is our position that unless the mediation team is expanded to include at least one permanent representative from the African Union and the mediation mechanism is changed, no meaningful progress can be made toward resolving the Zimbabwe crisis," he said.

"If this does not happen, then the MDC will not be part of the mediation process," Mr. Tsvangirai said — the same day Zimbabwean state media expressed the government's willingness to talk. State media also gave prominence to official tallies from last week's presidential runoff that gave long-time President Robert Mugabe an overwhelming victory, as if to underline that Mr. Mugabe expected to be the senior partner in any encounter with Mr. Tsvangirai.

Mr. Mugabe has extolled Mr. Mbeki's role.

Mr. Mbeki's spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said any question of expanding the mediation team would have to be left to the Southern African Development Community, the main regional body that appointed Mr. Mbeki mediator more than a year ago, and that the AU should remain in charge of the effort.

"We will continue to engage with both parties in Zimbabwe," Mr. Ratshitanga added. "It would be strange if it was ever suggested that the best way to solve problems between parties is not to talk."

Late Tuesday, Mr. Mbeki told state television he saw his role as merely helping Zimbabweans resolve their own crisis, rejecting outside intervention.

Mr. Mbeki was asked about calls in Europe for Mr. Tsvangirai to lead any coalition government. Mr. Mbeki says that is a question for Zimbabweans.

"Certainly SADC and certainly the African continent has not made any prescription about the outcome of what Zimbabweans should negotiate among themselves," Mr. Mbeki said.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told France 2 public TV on Tuesday that the European Union would not accept any Zimbabwe government other than one led by Mr. Tsvangirai.

Mr. Kouchner, speaking in Paris at the launch of the French EU presidency, said the Zimbabwe government will be illegitimate if it is not led by the head of opposition. He called last week's presidential runoff a "farce."

Mr. Tsvangirai came in first in a field of four in the first round of presidential voting in March. Electoral officials said Mr. Tsvangirai did not win the simple majority needed to avoid a second round against second-place finisher Mr. Mugabe, and scheduled a runoff for Friday. Mr. Tsvangirai withdrew days before the second round was held, citing widespread, brutal attacks on his supporters by Mr. Mugabe's police, soldiers and militant supporters.

Mr. Mugabe held the vote despite international condemnation, and kept Mr. Tsvangirai's name on the ballot. He was declared the winner Sunday and held an inauguration ceremony before flying to the AU summit in Egypt.

Mr. Tsvangirai said Wednesday that as winner "of the last credible elections on March 29, 2008," the opposition should be recognized as the legitimate government of Zimbabwe.

"While the MDC remains committed to negotiations, these must be based on the March 29 results and must move towards a transitional agreement," he said. "Our commitment to a negotiated settlement is not about power-sharing or power deals, but about democracy, freedom and justice."

Mr. Tsvangirai added violence had continued, with nine of his supporters killed since the runoff. He also said hundreds had been beaten and forced to flee their homes since the runoff.

In a statement at the end of their summit, AU leaders said they were "deeply concerned" about political violence and reports that Zimbabwe's presidential runoff was not free and not fair.

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