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(ZIMBABWEJOURNALISTS.COM) Exert more pressure on Mugabe, says Bush as he calls for change in Zim

Exert more pressure on Mugabe, says Bush as he calls for change in Zim
By a Correspondent

NEW YORK – United States President George W Bush has turned the heat on President Mugabe, calling today on the international community to increase pressure on the Zanu PF leader and his government to stop human rights abuses and related ills.

Bush told the United Nations General Assembly as it opened its main debate session today that the UN, whose secretary general last week said he would convey to Mugabe world leaders’ concerns about the grave situation in Zimbabwe, must insist on change in Harare. He called the Harare government a “tyrannical regime”.

Bush’s speech comes hard-on-the-heels of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s statement attacking the Zanu PF leader and his cronies last week for pulling Zimbabwe down from being Africa’s jewel to a basket case.

The American President said the Zanu PF government was "an affront" to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 upon which the UN was founded.

Bush called for increased pressure from the international community on the current leadership of Zimbabwe, where he said ordinary citizens continued to suffer under a tyrannical regime.

He said millions have been forced to flee their homes amidst a continuing oppressive crackdown with many going without food and water as shortages continue to bite due to Zanu PF policies.

"The government has cracked down on peaceful calls for reform and forced millions to flee," Bush said. "The United Nations must insist on change in Harare and on freedom for the people of Zimbabwe."

In a wide ranging speech that also attacked Cuba and Burma, Bush said the behaviour of Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe was an ``assault'' on its people and the US must insist on the freedom of its people.

Mugabe, who blames the West, particularly Britain, for the woes his country is facing, is also attending the General Assembly.

Last week Brown, in spelling out his policies on Zimbabwe for the first time, said he would be urging colleagues in the European Union to consider imposing more targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his colleagues and the freezing of their assets.

The EU sanctions, which affect at least 130 people in Mugabe’s government, have been blamed for being weak and since their imposition in 2002, the EU has not told the world how much of Mugabe’s money or his colleagues has been frozen in overseas accounts.

Mugabe himself has been allowed to break travel sanctions to attend EU and United Nations meetings. He has been under immense pressure since last week with church leaders calling on the West to act on Zimbabwe.

Labels: GW BUSH, UN, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 9:58 AM