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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe blocks 'political' aid | Zimbabwe blocks 'political' aid |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's government has banned an international aid group from operating in the country for allegedly campaigning for the opposition. | Zimbabwe's government has banned an international aid group from operating in the country for allegedly campaigning for the opposition. |
| All operations of CARE International are now suspended, pending an inquiry into the claims. | All operations of CARE International are now suspended, pending an inquiry into the claims. |
| CARE denies that it "has encouraged or tolerated any political activity". | |
| The ban comes as Zimbabwe prepares for a run-off election between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 27 June. | The ban comes as Zimbabwe prepares for a run-off election between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 27 June. |
| Some four million Zimbabweans are believed to need food aid. | Some four million Zimbabweans are believed to need food aid. |
| Mr Mugabe is currently attending the UN's food summit in Rome, where the UK and Australia have called his presence "obscene". | Mr Mugabe is currently attending the UN's food summit in Rome, where the UK and Australia have called his presence "obscene". |
| They blame him for destroying Zimbabwe's once thriving economy. | They blame him for destroying Zimbabwe's once thriving economy. |
| Mr Mugabe in turns says a Western plot and poor rains are behind the hunger in his country. | Mr Mugabe in turns says a Western plot and poor rains are behind the hunger in his country. |
| Humanitarian operations | |
| "CARE International has strict policies against political involvement and categorically denies that the organisation has encouraged or tolerated any political activity," the group said in a statement. | |
| "CARE has requested but has not yet received any details of the allegations, including names, dates and locations. | |
| The statement said some 500,000 Zimbabweans were affected by the suspension. | |
| "CARE has pledged to co-operate with the [Zimbabwean] government in resolving the situation, so the humanitarian operations may resume as soon as possible." | |
| Kenneth Walker, CARE's Africa communications manager, told the BBC News website that the group's operations were suspended last Friday. | |
| Mr Walker said CARE had been accused of being involved in the distribution of brochures on behalf of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and threatening to withhold food from those not supporting the opposition. | |
| CARE is involved in a number of projects in Zimbabwe, including distributing food aid, water and sanitation, micro credits and support for orphans. | |
| The MDC has frequently accused the government of denying food aid to opposition supporters - accusations denied by the authorities. |