UK Will Not Attend Summit With President Mugabe - Brown
The
British Premier, Mr. Gordon Brown has aid that neither he nor
any senior member of his government would attend a planned
summit of African and European leaders alongside Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe, even though many European leaders have
signified intention to participate.
Speaking at a news conference in London, the British Premier
reiterated his determination to boycott the first European
Union-Africa Union summit in seven years, scheduled for Lisbon
in December, if President Mugabe was present.
"I would not attend and no senior government minister will
attend”…"We are not prepared to sit down at the same table as
Mr. Mugabe." he said.
China and other EU leaders have indicated they would attend the
gathering, even with Mugabe.
Portugal, which holds the rotating presidency of the European
Union, has said all leaders are invited to the summit.
Many African leaders have said they would boycott the summit if
Mugabe did not attend.
Western
Accusations
Mr. Mugabe is accused of rigging elections and presiding over
the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy, now marked by the world's
highest inflation rate of about 6,600 percent.
President Mugabe however blames Western powers for the economic
crisis, accusing them and Britain in particular, of plotting
with the opposition to destabilise his government.
He is subject to a European Union travel ban but that could be
suspended to allow him attend the December meeting.
REU/MIA
