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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe's air force chief 'shot' | Zimbabwe's air force chief 'shot' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The commander of Zimbabwe's air force has been wounded in what officials are calling an assassination attempt. | The commander of Zimbabwe's air force has been wounded in what officials are calling an assassination attempt. |
| Perence Shiri, 53, a close ally of President Mugabe, seen as one of the most feared military leaders, was shot in the arm and is said to be stable. | Perence Shiri, 53, a close ally of President Mugabe, seen as one of the most feared military leaders, was shot in the arm and is said to be stable. |
| The opposition MDC says he was one of the masterminds of violence against its supporters during this year's election. | The opposition MDC says he was one of the masterminds of violence against its supporters during this year's election. |
| Its spokesman said the attack was aimed at justifying a military crackdown and eventual declaration of an emergency. | Its spokesman said the attack was aimed at justifying a military crackdown and eventual declaration of an emergency. |
| The incident comes as pressure grows on Zimbabwe to allow international mediation in its political crisis. | The incident comes as pressure grows on Zimbabwe to allow international mediation in its political crisis. |
| The crisis is compounded by a cholera epidemic which has left hundreds dead. | The crisis is compounded by a cholera epidemic which has left hundreds dead. |
| On Monday, at the UN Security Council's first discussions on Zimbabwe since July, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the world was witnessing a failure of the leadership in Zimbabwe to address the crisis. | On Monday, at the UN Security Council's first discussions on Zimbabwe since July, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the world was witnessing a failure of the leadership in Zimbabwe to address the crisis. |
| After disputed presidential elections in March, President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) agreed to form a power-sharing government. | After disputed presidential elections in March, President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) agreed to form a power-sharing government. |
| But implementation of that agreement, reached in September, has been dogged by disagreements over whose supporters would get key ministries. | But implementation of that agreement, reached in September, has been dogged by disagreements over whose supporters would get key ministries. |
| 'Terror attacks' | 'Terror attacks' |
| Correspondents say this is the first time such a senior government figure has been the target of a violent attack for many years. | Correspondents say this is the first time such a senior government figure has been the target of a violent attack for many years. |
| PERENCE SHIRI Accused of masterminding attacks on opposition in 2008Member of Joint Operations Command - top military bodyAccused of leading farm invasions in 2000Led brutal campaign against "dissidents" in 1980s, which left 20,000 deadCalled himself "Black Jesus" - as he had the power of life or deathCousin of Robert MugabeOn sanctions list of US, EUAge: 53 Key role for security chiefsQ&A: Zimbabwe crisis | PERENCE SHIRI Accused of masterminding attacks on opposition in 2008Member of Joint Operations Command - top military bodyAccused of leading farm invasions in 2000Led brutal campaign against "dissidents" in 1980s, which left 20,000 deadCalled himself "Black Jesus" - as he had the power of life or deathCousin of Robert MugabeOn sanctions list of US, EUAge: 53 Key role for security chiefsQ&A: Zimbabwe crisis |
| "This is a very, very unusual incident, because Zimbabwe does not have a history of assassinations," the assistant editor of the state-run Herald newspaper, Caesar Zaye, told the BBC World Service's World Today programme. | "This is a very, very unusual incident, because Zimbabwe does not have a history of assassinations," the assistant editor of the state-run Herald newspaper, Caesar Zaye, told the BBC World Service's World Today programme. |
| Air Marshal Shiri was ambushed on Saturday evening while driving to his farm, state media said. | Air Marshal Shiri was ambushed on Saturday evening while driving to his farm, state media said. |
| Police said he was accosted by unknown people who shot at his car. | Police said he was accosted by unknown people who shot at his car. |
| When he heard the gunshots, he got out thinking it was a puncture and was shot. He is now said to be recovering in hospital. | When he heard the gunshots, he got out thinking it was a puncture and was shot. He is now said to be recovering in hospital. |
| Officials said the incident was one of a series of attacks aimed at destabilising the country. | Officials said the incident was one of a series of attacks aimed at destabilising the country. |
| "The attack on Air Marshal Shiri appears to be a build-up of terror attacks targeting high-profile persons, government officials, government establishments and public transportation systems," the Chronicle newspaper quoted Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi as saying. | "The attack on Air Marshal Shiri appears to be a build-up of terror attacks targeting high-profile persons, government officials, government establishments and public transportation systems," the Chronicle newspaper quoted Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi as saying. |
| There were several bomb blasts around Harare last year which caused little damage. The courts have acquitted several opposition activists accused of staging the attacks. | |
| Mr Zaye said the alleged assassination attempt was "an attempt to bring a security angle into the crisis". | |
| However, other sources suggest the cause was either a feud within the ruling Zanu-PF party or an attempted robbery. | However, other sources suggest the cause was either a feud within the ruling Zanu-PF party or an attempted robbery. |
| Crackdown fear | Crackdown fear |
| On Monday, Zimbabwe's government said it had "compelling evidence" that neighbouring Botswana was hosting military training camps for opposition groups intent on bringing about regime change. | On Monday, Zimbabwe's government said it had "compelling evidence" that neighbouring Botswana was hosting military training camps for opposition groups intent on bringing about regime change. |
| Botswana denied the charges, and said Harare had failed to provide any tangible evidence to back up its allegations. | Botswana denied the charges, and said Harare had failed to provide any tangible evidence to back up its allegations. |
| Air Marshal Shiri, who is also Mr Mugabe's cousin and a loyal supporter since he came to power, sits on the Joint Operations Command which advises the president on military matters. | Air Marshal Shiri, who is also Mr Mugabe's cousin and a loyal supporter since he came to power, sits on the Joint Operations Command which advises the president on military matters. |
| The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the JOC was behind the violent attacks on its supporters ahead of June's presidential run-off - allegations the military strongly denied. | The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the JOC was behind the violent attacks on its supporters ahead of June's presidential run-off - allegations the military strongly denied. |
| Air Marshal Shiri was commander of the Fifth Brigade, blamed for the killing of 20,000 people in Zimbabwe's south-western Matabeleland region during the 1980s. | Air Marshal Shiri was commander of the Fifth Brigade, blamed for the killing of 20,000 people in Zimbabwe's south-western Matabeleland region during the 1980s. |