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Brown threatening Mugabe boycott Brown threatening Mugabe boycott
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will boycott a summit of European and African leaders if Zimbabwean 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 told the Independent newspaper that Mr Mugabe has 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 There is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition Gordon Brown class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7452&edition=2&ttl=20070919115610">Your views on Brown's stance
"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."
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.
'Compromise sought''Compromise sought'
However, no invitation has yet been sent to Mr Mugabe, according to senior sources in the Portuguese government.However, no invitation has yet been sent to Mr Mugabe, according to senior sources in the Portuguese government.
The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said he understood diplomats were being "very active in trying to find a compromise".The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said he understood diplomats were being "very active in trying to find a compromise".
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.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.
Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader for the summit on 8 and 9 December.Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader for the summit on 8 and 9 December.
However, the Portuguese may let the African Union decide which leaders should attend.However, the Portuguese may let the African Union decide which leaders should attend.
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.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.
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.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."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," 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."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.