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Brown 'a tiny dot on this world' | Brown 'a tiny dot on this world' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe has called Prime Minister Gordon Brown "a little tiny dot on this world". | Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe has called Prime Minister Gordon Brown "a little tiny dot on this world". |
He was responding to Mr Brown's warning to Mr Mugabe that he is "appalled" at the latest developments in the country. | He was responding to Mr Brown's warning to Mr Mugabe that he is "appalled" at the latest developments in the country. |
"Brown is the world? Sure, the world is losing patience, but I know Brown is a little tiny dot on this world," Mr Mugabe said. | "Brown is the world? Sure, the world is losing patience, but I know Brown is a little tiny dot on this world," Mr Mugabe said. |
Zimbabwean police have banned political rallies amid growing tension over the disputed presidential election. | Zimbabwean police have banned political rallies amid growing tension over the disputed presidential election. |
'Completely unacceptable' | 'Completely unacceptable' |
The prime minister said the world was running out of patience with President Mugabe, with results still not released almost two weeks after the election. | The prime minister said the world was running out of patience with President Mugabe, with results still not released almost two weeks after the election. |
In a fresh appeal Mr Brown said: "We cannot wait any longer for the announcement of these results. | In a fresh appeal Mr Brown said: "We cannot wait any longer for the announcement of these results. |
The eyes of the world are on Zimbabwe now Gordon Brown Brown's comments class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7344558.stm">Miliband's letter on situation | |
"It is in the interests of Zimbabwe's future that President Mugabe and his Zimbabwean electoral commission publish these results." | "It is in the interests of Zimbabwe's future that President Mugabe and his Zimbabwean electoral commission publish these results." |
"I think it is important that we are vigilant about what happens after that. If there is to be a future election, that there is proper international monitoring of what is going on." | "I think it is important that we are vigilant about what happens after that. If there is to be a future election, that there is proper international monitoring of what is going on." |
He added: "It is appalling if there is intimidation and violence. It is completely unacceptable and the whole eyes of the world are on Zimbabwe now." | He added: "It is appalling if there is intimidation and violence. It is completely unacceptable and the whole eyes of the world are on Zimbabwe now." |
Mr Brown was speaking ahead of a regional summit in Zambia to discuss the crisis. | Mr Brown was speaking ahead of a regional summit in Zambia to discuss the crisis. |
Members of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Saturday. | Members of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Saturday. |
In a further development, Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent a letter to shadow foreign secretary William Hague to update him on the situation. | In a further development, Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent a letter to shadow foreign secretary William Hague to update him on the situation. |
He said: "It is clear that there was a majority of people who voted against President Mugabe, despite the conditions under which the vote was held." | He said: "It is clear that there was a majority of people who voted against President Mugabe, despite the conditions under which the vote was held." |
He went on to estimate that approximately 14,000 British nationals in Zimbabwe would be eligible for consular assistance from the UK. | He went on to estimate that approximately 14,000 British nationals in Zimbabwe would be eligible for consular assistance from the UK. |
'No crisis' | 'No crisis' |
Last weekend Mr Brown held private talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki, spending more than two hours trying to persuade him to use his influence to end the crisis. | Last weekend Mr Brown held private talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki, spending more than two hours trying to persuade him to use his influence to end the crisis. |
Despite growing tensions, Mr Mbeki said there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. | Despite growing tensions, Mr Mbeki said there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. |
In Zimbabwe, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - which claims to have won the election - has called for a strike starting on Tuesday to put pressure on the authorities. | In Zimbabwe, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - which claims to have won the election - has called for a strike starting on Tuesday to put pressure on the authorities. |
The ban on political rallies comes two days before a planned demonstration by the MDC in the capital Harare. | The ban on political rallies comes two days before a planned demonstration by the MDC in the capital Harare. |