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| Zimbabwe scorns sanctions calls | Zimbabwe scorns sanctions calls |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN has dismissed calls for sanctions against his country over pre-election violence, in an interview with US media. | Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN has dismissed calls for sanctions against his country over pre-election violence, in an interview with US media. |
| Boniface Chidyausiku dubbed US-led calls for fresh UN measures against Zimbabwe a "non-issue". | Boniface Chidyausiku dubbed US-led calls for fresh UN measures against Zimbabwe a "non-issue". |
| Pressure is growing on African leaders meeting in Egypt to take a firm line on Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe. | Pressure is growing on African leaders meeting in Egypt to take a firm line on Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe. |
| Mr Mugabe has claimed victory in a presidential poll that the opposition pulled out of amid widespread violence. | Mr Mugabe has claimed victory in a presidential poll that the opposition pulled out of amid widespread violence. |
| 'Not bothered' | 'Not bothered' |
| Asked about sanctions, Mr Chidyausiku told AP news agency: "I'm not even bothered, I wouldn't lose sleep over it... We are not a threat to international peace and security." | Asked about sanctions, Mr Chidyausiku told AP news agency: "I'm not even bothered, I wouldn't lose sleep over it... We are not a threat to international peace and security." |
| Zimbabwe has nothing to worry about, its UN ambassador said | |
| He added: "We see the whole approach to sanctions as a weapon to try and effect a regime change in Zimbabwe." | He added: "We see the whole approach to sanctions as a weapon to try and effect a regime change in Zimbabwe." |
| The Zimbabwe crisis has overshadowed the African Union (AU) summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. | The Zimbabwe crisis has overshadowed the African Union (AU) summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. |
| Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma said African leaders should use Tuesday, the final day of the two-day summit, to condemn Mr Mugabe's re-election. | Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma said African leaders should use Tuesday, the final day of the two-day summit, to condemn Mr Mugabe's re-election. |
| Mr Koroma expressed support for a South African initiative to encourage the formation of a transitional government of national unity. | Mr Koroma expressed support for a South African initiative to encourage the formation of a transitional government of national unity. |
| We think it is important the African Union signal that a sham inauguration preceded by a sham election does not make the government legitimate Tom Casey US state department spokesman African leaders' discomfortZimbabwe: Possible scenariosInside Mugabe's mind | |
| Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged the AU to suspend Mr Mugabe until he allows free and fair elections. | Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged the AU to suspend Mr Mugabe until he allows free and fair elections. |
| And Senegal's Foreign Minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, complained of hesitancy among the AU leaders to openly pressure the Zimbabwean president. | And Senegal's Foreign Minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, complained of hesitancy among the AU leaders to openly pressure the Zimbabwean president. |
| But Africa's longest serving leader, Gabon President Omar Bongo, said Mr Mugabe should be accepted as the country's elected president. | But Africa's longest serving leader, Gabon President Omar Bongo, said Mr Mugabe should be accepted as the country's elected president. |
| 'Hugs' | 'Hugs' |
| Before the opening meeting at the Red Sea resort, Mr Mugabe hugged several heads of states and diplomats, one African delegate told AP news agency. | Before the opening meeting at the Red Sea resort, Mr Mugabe hugged several heads of states and diplomats, one African delegate told AP news agency. |
| Correspondents say he is still seen by many Africans as a hero of the anti-colonial struggle. | Correspondents say he is still seen by many Africans as a hero of the anti-colonial struggle. |
| The US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said he was pressing for the Security Council to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe. | The US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said he was pressing for the Security Council to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe. |
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. |
| BACKNEXT1 of 9 | BACKNEXT1 of 9 |
| The US is expected to present a draft resolution on Wednesday calling for an arms embargo, a travel ban on regime officials and a freeze on the assets of key individuals and companies. | The US is expected to present a draft resolution on Wednesday calling for an arms embargo, a travel ban on regime officials and a freeze on the assets of key individuals and companies. |
| US state department spokesman Tom Casey said: "We think it is important that the African Union signal that a sham inauguration that was preceded by a sham election does not make the government legitimate." | US state department spokesman Tom Casey said: "We think it is important that the African Union signal that a sham inauguration that was preceded by a sham election does not make the government legitimate." |
| But analysts say it may be difficult to persuade South Africa, Russia, China and others to accept UN sanctions. | But analysts say it may be difficult to persuade South Africa, Russia, China and others to accept UN sanctions. |
| Criticism from Europe mounted on Monday with France labelling Mr Mugabe's government "illegitimate," and Britain saying the recent election would not be recognised. | Criticism from Europe mounted on Monday with France labelling Mr Mugabe's government "illegitimate," and Britain saying the recent election would not be recognised. |
| Italy - which last week urged EU nations to withdraw their ambassadors to Harare - recalled its envoy to Zimbabwe in protest. | Italy - which last week urged EU nations to withdraw their ambassadors to Harare - recalled its envoy to Zimbabwe in protest. |
| MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential vote on 29 March but failed to win an absolute majority. | MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential vote on 29 March but failed to win an absolute majority. |
| He reluctantly agreed to participate in the 27 June run-off but withdrew blaming violence which he said had killed nearly 90 of his followers. | He reluctantly agreed to participate in the 27 June run-off but withdrew blaming violence which he said had killed nearly 90 of his followers. |
| He has been holed up at the Dutch Embassy in Harare since withdrawing from the race. | He has been holed up at the Dutch Embassy in Harare since withdrawing from the race. |
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