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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Miliband defends Zimbabwe tactics | Miliband defends Zimbabwe tactics |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has denied that Britain's failed attempt to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders was "ill-judged". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has denied that Britain's failed attempt to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders was "ill-judged". |
| He said the UK and US were "absolutely right" to put the sanctions resolution to a UN vote, even though it was vetoed by Russia and China. | He said the UK and US were "absolutely right" to put the sanctions resolution to a UN vote, even though it was vetoed by Russia and China. |
| "We've been arguing for a long time that we need real action, not words. It was right to test this out," he said. | "We've been arguing for a long time that we need real action, not words. It was right to test this out," he said. |
| Sanctions could have included a travel ban for Robert Mugabe and 13 allies. | Sanctions could have included a travel ban for Robert Mugabe and 13 allies. |
| An arms embargo was also among the proposed sanctions. | An arms embargo was also among the proposed sanctions. |
| Zimbabwe's UN ambassador said the UK and US had come up with unjustified reasons for the draft UN Security Council resolution. | Zimbabwe's UN ambassador said the UK and US had come up with unjustified reasons for the draft UN Security Council resolution. |
| Boniface Chidyausiku said he was happy to see what he called the "machinations" of the US, the UK and France failing. | Boniface Chidyausiku said he was happy to see what he called the "machinations" of the US, the UK and France failing. |
| 'Two fingers up' | 'Two fingers up' |
| There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of Mr Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition. | There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of Mr Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition. |
| Opposition leder Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters. | Opposition leder Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters. |
| Russia and China said they opposed the resolution because the situation in Zimbabwe did not threaten international stability. | Russia and China said they opposed the resolution because the situation in Zimbabwe did not threaten international stability. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Miliband defended Britain's diplomatic tactics. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Miliband defended Britain's diplomatic tactics. |
| "I think it was absolutely right to go to a vote," he said. | "I think it was absolutely right to go to a vote," he said. |
| "The UN has been saying for a long time, 'This is a real problem, it's a real concern.' Everyone's been saying that. | "The UN has been saying for a long time, 'This is a real problem, it's a real concern.' Everyone's been saying that. |
| "But it's right that in the end people have to show their cards. And the vote yesterday showed that in the end, the Russians and the Chinese - I wouldn't quite say put two fingers up - but effectively, they blocked action." | "But it's right that in the end people have to show their cards. And the vote yesterday showed that in the end, the Russians and the Chinese - I wouldn't quite say put two fingers up - but effectively, they blocked action." |
| Earlier, in a statement Mr Miliband said Russia's veto, in particular, was "incomprehensible" as President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to support the resolution at the recent meeting of G8 industrialised nations. | Earlier, in a statement Mr Miliband said Russia's veto, in particular, was "incomprehensible" as President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to support the resolution at the recent meeting of G8 industrialised nations. |
| South Africa - which is hoping that President Mugabe and the opposition can reach a deal on a power-sharing - also voted against sanctions. | South Africa - which is hoping that President Mugabe and the opposition can reach a deal on a power-sharing - also voted against sanctions. |
| On Saturday, Mr Mugabe's regime thanked South African President Thabo Mbeki for having "foiled the Western plot". | On Saturday, Mr Mugabe's regime thanked South African President Thabo Mbeki for having "foiled the Western plot". |
| The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water William HagueShadow foreign secretary | The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water William HagueShadow foreign secretary |
| The UK ambassador said immediately after the vote on Friday that the UN had failed in its duty. | The UK ambassador said immediately after the vote on Friday that the UN had failed in its duty. |
| "The people of Zimbabwe need to be given hope that there is an end in sight to their suffering," said Sir John Sawers. | "The people of Zimbabwe need to be given hope that there is an end in sight to their suffering," said Sir John Sawers. |
| "The Security Council today has failed to offer them that hope." | "The Security Council today has failed to offer them that hope." |
| 'Disastrous day' | |
| The Conservatives also criticised the veto, and the government for being "over-confident" of Russia's support. | The Conservatives also criticised the veto, and the government for being "over-confident" of Russia's support. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water when millions of Zimbabwean refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water when millions of Zimbabwean refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. |
| "With the UN paralysed, the need for more serious and properly enforced EU sanctions is all the greater," he added. | "With the UN paralysed, the need for more serious and properly enforced EU sanctions is all the greater," he added. |
| The resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council. | The resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council. |
| But the veto of any of the five permanent members is enough to defeat a resolution. | But the veto of any of the five permanent members is enough to defeat a resolution. |
| Ed Davey, Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, said: "It's a bad day for the UN and a disastrous day for the people of Zimbabwe." | Ed Davey, Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, said: "It's a bad day for the UN and a disastrous day for the people of Zimbabwe." |
| He said Britain must now try to exert pressure on Mr Mugabe through the European Union, the African Union and, in particular, South Africa. | He said Britain must now try to exert pressure on Mr Mugabe through the European Union, the African Union and, in particular, South Africa. |
| "President Mbeki has been the one who has shown the worst leadership of all, frankly, even worse than Russia and China," Mr Davey said. | "President Mbeki has been the one who has shown the worst leadership of all, frankly, even worse than Russia and China," Mr Davey said. |
| 'Other mechanisms' | 'Other mechanisms' |
| Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than the 50% share needed to avoid a run-off. | Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than the 50% share needed to avoid a run-off. |
| He pulled out of the run-off poll after many of his supporters were targeted, assaulted and even killed, leaving Mr Mugabe to win unopposed in the second round at the end of June. | He pulled out of the run-off poll after many of his supporters were targeted, assaulted and even killed, leaving Mr Mugabe to win unopposed in the second round at the end of June. |
| Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said Friday's vote threw the future of the UN into question. | Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said Friday's vote threw the future of the UN into question. |
| "We simply cannot permit these types of crimes and individuals to move forward and if the Security Council cannot act we need to be looking at other mechanisms," he said. | "We simply cannot permit these types of crimes and individuals to move forward and if the Security Council cannot act we need to be looking at other mechanisms," he said. |