The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
Ralph Mutema
24 June 2008
THE 15-nation United Nations Security Council on Monday condemned the "campaign of violence" in Zimbabwe ahead of the presidential run-off scheduled for Friday in Zimbabwe.
In a statement unanimously adopted by the 15-member body, the Council called on the government of Zimbabwe to stop the violence in the country which has increased since the March 29 harmonized election.
The British-drafted statement was watered down from an earlier version.
The U.S., France and some other Western powers tried but failed to include the language asserting that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai should be considered the legitimate president, until another fair election can be held.
The final statement agreed late last night, however, fell short of this call and said that a free and fair election was impossible if violence and intimidation continued.
The final version called on "international monitors and observers to stay in Zimbabwe" until a "credible" election is held.
The Council also expressed its concern over the impact of the current situation in Zimbabwe on the wider region, urging the government to cooperate with international efforts to facilitate dialogues among the parties, and form a government that represents the will of the Zimbabwean people.
The Council said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and requested that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon report on regional and international efforts to resolve the crisis.
Zimbabwean police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri said the police had been "shocked and surprised" by Tsvangirai's decision to seek refuge in the Dutch embassy.
"It is obviously a calculated move to besmirch the presidential run-off election ... and further brutalise the image of Zimbabwe," Chihuri told a news conference. "We wonder from whom Mr Tsvangirai is running away or hiding."
Chihuri also said that Zimbabwean police had no plans to arrest Tsvangirai.
"We therefore declare that Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai is under no threat at all from Zimbabweans and he should cast away these delusions."
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