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Zimbabwe vote violence 'must end' | Zimbabwe vote violence 'must end' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for an end to violence by a "criminal cabal" in Zimbabwe ahead of Friday's presidential election. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for an end to violence by a "criminal cabal" in Zimbabwe ahead of Friday's presidential election. |
He said opposition to Robert Mugabe's regime must be allowed to "express its dissent" in free and fair elections. | |
If that does not happen Zimbabwe would become "more isolated", he warned. | |
Meanwhile Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for South Africa to threaten to restrict or cut off electricity supplies to Zimbabwe. | |
He told the BBC's Politics Show he also wanted to see Britain blocking the transfer of remittance money to Zimbabwe from expatriates resident in the UK. | |
Mr Clegg, whose party is the third largest in the UK, also said that while there was a "moral case" to intervene militarily in Zimbabwe it was "inconceivable" that it would happen. | |
In Zimbabwe the opposition is due to hold a rally after a police ban was overturned. | |
The gathering, which comes ahead of a presidential run-off vote on 27 June, is set to go-ahead in Zimbabwe's capital Harare after the country's high court overturned the ban. | The gathering, which comes ahead of a presidential run-off vote on 27 June, is set to go-ahead in Zimbabwe's capital Harare after the country's high court overturned the ban. |
There will be sanctions from the international community unless the violence stops Gordon Brown | There will be sanctions from the international community unless the violence stops Gordon Brown |
However, it is still possible the Movement for Democratic Change's candidate Morgan Tsvangirai will abandon the contest. | However, it is still possible the Movement for Democratic Change's candidate Morgan Tsvangirai will abandon the contest. |
The MDC plans to decide on Monday whether to compete in the poll, saying at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in the run-up to the vote. | The MDC plans to decide on Monday whether to compete in the poll, saying at least 70 of its supporters have been killed in the run-up to the vote. |
President Robert Mugabe has accused the MDC of lying about political violence. | President Robert Mugabe has accused the MDC of lying about political violence. |
'Growing anger | 'Growing anger |
In a pooled interview, Mr Brown said an end to violence was "essential" and that international observers should be allowed into Zimbabwe. | In a pooled interview, Mr Brown said an end to violence was "essential" and that international observers should be allowed into Zimbabwe. |
"I can say very clearly that we know those people who are perpetrating the violence - this is a criminal cabal that is operating, and there will be sanctions from the international community unless the violence stops." | "I can say very clearly that we know those people who are perpetrating the violence - this is a criminal cabal that is operating, and there will be sanctions from the international community unless the violence stops." |
He continued: "The regime must allow the opposition to express its dissent, the elections must be held freely and fairly, or Zimbabwe will be further isolated from the international community. | He continued: "The regime must allow the opposition to express its dissent, the elections must be held freely and fairly, or Zimbabwe will be further isolated from the international community. |
"And I believe that the growing anger in Africa about the behaviour of the Mugabe regime is the best signal we have that things will change. | "And I believe that the growing anger in Africa about the behaviour of the Mugabe regime is the best signal we have that things will change. |
"They've got to change, but they will change as a result of African opinion." | "They've got to change, but they will change as a result of African opinion." |