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| Zimbabwe looms over Africa summit | Zimbabwe looms over Africa summit |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| African Union (AU) leaders are gathering in Egypt for a summit which seems set to be overshadowed by the crisis in Zimbabwe. | African Union (AU) leaders are gathering in Egypt for a summit which seems set to be overshadowed by the crisis in Zimbabwe. |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has arrived for the meeting, fresh from winning the election there. | |
| He was sworn in on Sunday, but election observers said pre-poll violence had undermined the vote's credibility. | He was sworn in on Sunday, but election observers said pre-poll violence had undermined the vote's credibility. |
| There have been calls for the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe, but it may urge talks with the opposition instead. | There have been calls for the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe, but it may urge talks with the opposition instead. |
| Mr Mugabe claimed a landslide victory as the sole candidate after the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew. | Mr Mugabe claimed a landslide victory as the sole candidate after the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew. |
| The head of a 400-person observer mission from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, was quoted as saying: "The pre-election phase was characterised by politically-motivated violence, intimidation and displacements." | The head of a 400-person observer mission from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, was quoted as saying: "The pre-election phase was characterised by politically-motivated violence, intimidation and displacements." |
| Another observer team, from the Pan-African Parliament, has called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair. | Another observer team, from the Pan-African Parliament, has called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair. |
| Call for dialogue | Call for dialogue |
| The AU has a rule not to accept leaders who have not been democratically elected - but observers say it is unlikely to take such strong action so quickly. | The AU has a rule not to accept leaders who have not been democratically elected - but observers say it is unlikely to take such strong action so quickly. |
ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS | ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS |
| Zimbabwe's opposition wants neighbouring countries to persuadeRobert Mugabe to step down. So how are relations changing? | Zimbabwe's opposition wants neighbouring countries to persuadeRobert Mugabe to step down. So how are relations changing? |
| South Africa's Thabo Mbeki is the key mediator. He has not criticisedRobert Mugabe, despite pressure from the ruling ANC. | South Africa's Thabo Mbeki is the key mediator. He has not criticisedRobert Mugabe, despite pressure from the ruling ANC. |
| Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the toughest line. He'scalled Zimbabwe a "regional embarrassment". | Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the toughest line. He'scalled Zimbabwe a "regional embarrassment". |
| Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies. He has urged Mr Mugabe to end the violence. | Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies. He has urged Mr Mugabe to end the violence. |
| Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about theviolence. It has supported Zimbabwe's opposition. | Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about theviolence. It has supported Zimbabwe's opposition. |
| Namibia is an ally of Robert Mugabe. It wants to re-distribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the violence. | Namibia is an ally of Robert Mugabe. It wants to re-distribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the violence. |
| Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced out of Zimbabwe when their land was seized. It is seen as sympathetic to the opposition. | Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced out of Zimbabwe when their land was seized. It is seen as sympathetic to the opposition. |
| Tanzania's ruling party has a history of backing Robert Mugabe'sZanu-PF party. Its foreign minister has condemned the violence. | Tanzania's ruling party has a history of backing Robert Mugabe'sZanu-PF party. Its foreign minister has condemned the violence. |
| DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe whosent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. | DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe whosent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. |
| Malawi is seen as neutral. But 3m people from Malawi are in Zimbabweand many were badly hit by the farm invasions. | Malawi is seen as neutral. But 3m people from Malawi are in Zimbabweand many were badly hit by the farm invasions. |
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| "It will be none of this summit's business to choose the titles for leaders, it is the business of this summit to see what we are going to do for the suffering people and masses in Africa," Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said at a media briefing, when asked if he would address Mr Mugabe as president. | |
| A draft resolution written by African foreign ministers during talks ahead of the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh did not criticise the elections or Mr Mugabe, but condemned violence in general terms and called for dialogue. | |
| African leaders are expected to urge Mr Mugabe to enter into talks with Mr Tsvangirai, and engage in some sort of power-sharing agreement. | African leaders are expected to urge Mr Mugabe to enter into talks with Mr Tsvangirai, and engage in some sort of power-sharing agreement. |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki, the regionally-appointed mediator for Zimbabwe, has called for a negotiated solution. | South African President Thabo Mbeki, the regionally-appointed mediator for Zimbabwe, has called for a negotiated solution. |
| On the eve of the summit, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was rushed to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh suffering chest pains. | |
| Mr Mwanawasa, who is said to be in a stable condition, has taken a tough line against Mr Mugabe's regime, calling the election undemocratic. | |
| Spoilt ballots | Spoilt ballots |
| Zimbabwe's opposition has called on the AU to take a greater role in mediating the crisis. | Zimbabwe's opposition has called on the AU to take a greater role in mediating the crisis. |
| MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe said the AU should send a dedicated envoy to Zimbabwe as well as peacekeepers to halt the violence. | MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe said the AU should send a dedicated envoy to Zimbabwe as well as peacekeepers to halt the violence. |
| Mr Mugabe was sworn in during a quickly convened ceremony on Sunday, about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the results of the presidential election run-off. | Mr Mugabe was sworn in during a quickly convened ceremony on Sunday, about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the results of the presidential election run-off. |
| The commission said Mr Mugabe won 85.5% of the vote, but many ballots were spoiled. | The commission said Mr Mugabe won 85.5% of the vote, but many ballots were spoiled. |
| In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis. | In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis. |
| However, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the opposition may reject any notion of a government of national unity in which Mr Mugabe is still in a key position. | |
| The MDC said some 86 of its supporters were killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the weeks preceding the run-off. | The MDC said some 86 of its supporters were killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the weeks preceding the run-off. |
| The government has blamed the MDC for the violence. | The government has blamed the MDC for the violence. |
| The 84-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. | The 84-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think should happen now? Tell your experiences by using the form below. Let us know if you would prefer us not to use your real name. | Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think should happen now? Tell your experiences by using the form below. Let us know if you would prefer us not to use your real name. |