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| Mugabe aide tells West: 'Go hang' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A spokesman for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has rejected Western criticism of the country's disputed presidential run-off election. | |
| At an African Union summit in Egypt, George Charamba said the West had no basis to speak about the situation - and can "go hang a thousand times". | |
| Amid suggestions of a Kenya-style deal with the opposition, he said only a "Zimbabwean way" could end the crisis. | |
| President Robert Mugabe said he had won the vote, boycotted by the opposition. | |
| The run-off was widely criticised by Western leaders as not being free or fair. | |
| Earlier, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai left the Dutch embassy in Harare, where he had taken refuge after pulling out of Friday's vote because of election violence. | |
| He had decided the situation was calm enough to return home, the Dutch foreign ministry official said. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says he won the presidential election outright in March, but government officials said he did not secure enough votes to avoid a run-off. | Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says he won the presidential election outright in March, but government officials said he did not secure enough votes to avoid a run-off. |
| Growing AU pressure | Growing AU pressure |
| Mr Mugabe is expected to address the AU summit in Sharm el-Sheikh later on Tuesday. | |
| African leaders attending the summit have faced growing pressure to take a strong stand against Mr Mugabe. | African leaders attending the summit have faced growing pressure to take a strong stand against Mr Mugabe. |
| Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma told the BBC he strongly condemned Zimbabwe's flawed electoral process. | Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma told the BBC he strongly condemned Zimbabwe's flawed electoral process. |
| One of them grabbed my arm and flung me to the ground... They dragged me by my hair to where my husband was lying Angela CampbellWife of Zimbabwe farmer African leaders' discomfortZimbabwe: Possible scenariosInside Mugabe's mind | |
| "We believe the people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights," he said. | "We believe the people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights," he said. |
| 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 would urge the South African group to ensure they engage both parties to form a transitional government that prepares Zimbabwe for fresh elections." | "We would urge the South African group to ensure they engage both parties to form a transitional government that prepares Zimbabwe for fresh elections." |
| Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged the AU to suspend Mr Mugabe until he allowed free and fair elections. | Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged the AU to suspend Mr Mugabe until he allowed free and fair elections. |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, the US has outlined a draft Security Council resolution calling for sanctions on Zimbabwe and Italy has recalled its ambassador to the country for consultations. | Meanwhile, the US has outlined a draft Security Council resolution calling for sanctions on Zimbabwe and Italy has recalled its ambassador to the country for consultations. |
| Sanctions call dismissed | Sanctions call dismissed |
| In Zimbabwe, an elderly farmer, his wife and their son-in-law, were found alive but badly beaten on Monday. | In Zimbabwe, an elderly farmer, his wife and their son-in-law, were found alive but badly beaten on Monday. |
| Mr Tsvangirai was arrested several times ahead of the run-off | |
| Mike Campbell, 75, his wife Angela, 66 and Ben Freeth had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their Harare farm by a heavily armed mob on Sunday. | Mike Campbell, 75, his wife Angela, 66 and Ben Freeth had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their Harare farm by a heavily armed mob on Sunday. |
| When they were found, Mr Campbell had concussion and a broken collar-bone, one of his wife's arms was broken in two places, and Mr Freeth had been beaten on the soles of his feet. | When they were found, Mr Campbell had concussion and a broken collar-bone, one of his wife's arms was broken in two places, and Mr Freeth had been beaten on the soles of his feet. |
| Mrs Campbell said a mob of Zanu-PF supporters had attacked her with sticks, just as Mr Mugabe was being re-inaugurated as Zimbabwe's president. | Mrs Campbell said a mob of Zanu-PF supporters had attacked her with sticks, just as Mr Mugabe was being re-inaugurated as Zimbabwe's president. |
| "One of them grabbed my arm and flung me to the ground, hence I have a rather serious break in my upper arm," she said. | "One of them grabbed my arm and flung me to the ground, hence I have a rather serious break in my upper arm," she said. |
| "They dragged me by my hair to where my husband was lying and they trussed us up with ropes lying on the gravel." | "They dragged me by my hair to where my husband was lying and they trussed us up with ropes lying on the gravel." |
| A friend of the family said the Campbells had been forced to sign a document withdrawing an appeal against the seizure of his farm. | A friend of the family said the Campbells had been forced to sign a document withdrawing an appeal against the seizure of his farm. |
| 'No threat' | |
| Earlier, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN dismissed calls for sanctions against his country over pre-election violence. | Earlier, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UN dismissed calls for sanctions against his country over pre-election violence. |
| Robert Mugabe is due to address the AU summit later on Tuesday | |
| 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". |
| 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." |
| Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential vote on 29 March but failed to win an absolute majority. | 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. |
Are | />Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think of the international reaction to the election? Send your comments using the form below, or text 44 7624 800 100: |