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Brown threatening Mugabe boycott Brown threatening Mugabe boycott
(about 3 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will boycott a summit of European and African leaders if Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe attends the event. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will boycott a summit of European and African leaders if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attends the event.
Mr Brown says Mr Mugabe's presence at the conference in Portugal will "divert attention" from important issues such as poverty, climate change and health.Mr Brown says Mr Mugabe's presence at the conference in Portugal will "divert attention" from important issues such as poverty, climate change and health.
He tells the Independent newspaper that Mr Mugabe faces an EU travel ban for a reason - "the abuse of his own people". He told the Independent newspaper that Mr Mugabe has an EU travel ban for a reason - "the abuse of his own people".
The European Union-African Union summit will take place in Lisbon in December.The European Union-African Union summit will take place in Lisbon in December.
Mr Brown described the summit as a "serious opportunity" to forge stronger partnerships between Africa and the EU.Mr Brown described the summit as a "serious opportunity" to forge stronger partnerships between Africa and the EU.
There is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition Gordon Brown
"I believe President Mugabe's presence would undermine the summit, divert attention from the important issues that need to be resolved," he said."I believe President Mugabe's presence would undermine the summit, divert attention from the important issues that need to be resolved," he said.
"In those circumstances, my attendance would not be appropriate.""In those circumstances, my attendance would not be appropriate."
'Tragic'
He added that Britain had a responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe, who find themselves in an "appalling and tragic" situation.He added that Britain had a responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe, who find themselves in an "appalling and tragic" situation.
The BBC's Robin Brant said Mr Brown would also be keen to avoid the embarrassment which befell Jack Straw who, as foreign secretary, was pictured shaking hands with the Zimbabwean leader at the UN in 2004. 'Compromise sought'
There is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition Gordon Brown However, no invitation has yet been sent to Mr Mugabe, according to senior sources in the Portuguese government.
But he added that the likelihood of Mr Mugabe attending the summit is "very small". The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said he understood diplomats were being "very active in trying to find a compromise".
Mr Mugabe is currently subject to a travel ban meaning he is not allowed to enter the EU. The ban would have to be lifted by EU ministers. This could involve inviting another Zimbabwean representive, such as a junior member of the government or a civil servant, so that Mr Brown could attend, our correspondent said.
However our correspondent said that if the Zimbabwean leader did express interest in the summit, it is likely some other African leaders who support him would stay away as well. Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader for the summit on 8 and 9 December.
Disagreement over Mr Mugabe upset plans for a previous EU-AU meeting four years ago. However, the Portuguese may let the African Union decide which leaders should attend.
Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader for the summit on 8-9 December. BBC world affairs correspondent Allan Little said criticism from Britain, the old colonial power, was a double-edged sword, because in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, this could be portrayed as an attempt to re-assert the interests of the white minority.
In order to allow Mr Mugabe to attend, EU member states would have to convene before the summit and agree to lift the travel ban currently imposed on him. Denominations of bank notes have risen owing to levels of inflationIn order to allow Mr Mugabe to attend the conference, EU member states would have to convene before the summit and agree to lift the travel ban currently imposed on him.
But Mr Brown is urging EU leaders to keep it in place.But Mr Brown is urging EU leaders to keep it in place.
"There is no freedom in Zimbabwe: no freedom of association; no freedom of the press," he added. "There is no freedom in Zimbabwe: no freedom of association; no freedom of the press.
"And there is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition." "And there is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition," added Mr Brown, who was chancellor in 2004 when Jack Straw, foreign secretary at the time, was pictured shaking hands with the Zimbabwean leader at the UN.
In the past week, the BBC has reported from Zimbabwe on the vast inflation and claims of torture that are a blight on a country which was once one of Africa's richest.