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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Botswana urges region not to recognize Mugabe's re-election |
| 2008-07-05 |
| (Xinhua) -- Botswana's government urged its neighbors Friday not to recognize Robert Mugabe's re-election, reiterating calls for Zimbabwe to be suspended from a regional bloc. "As a country that practices democracy and the rule of law, Botswana does not ... recognize the outcome of the presidential run-off election, and would expect other SADC member states to do the same," the South African Press Association quoted Botswana Foreign Minister Phandu Sekelemani as saying. On Tuesday, Botswana called for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC)meetings. Sekelemani said violence ahead of the June 27 run-off election "was not conducive to the holding of a free and fair election," adding that unrest "resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of people from their homes," according to the report. "It is therefore Botswana's position that Zimbabwe not be allowed to participate in SADC meetings until such time that they demonstrate their commitment to strictly adhere to the organization 's principles," he said. Sekelemani's comments came as Mugabe arrived back home to a hero's welcome by his followers after an African Union summit in Egypt. |
| Posted by:Fred |