Zimbabwe's Opposition Pleads for Help

Leader tells UN that Mugabe's troops are 'terrorizing people'
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 21, 2008 6:24 PM CDT
Zimbabwe's Opposition Pleads for Help
Electoral officials count ballots in Domboshawa, near the Zimbabwean capital of Harare Saturday, April 19, 2008.   (AP Photo)

Zimbabwe's opposition begged world leaders today for protection from post-election violence, Reuters reports. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said troops were "terrorizing people" and creating "a very serious humanitarian situation" in Zimbabwe, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said. Tsvangirai also told Ban that African leaders had failed to intervene after Zimbabwe's disputed election last month.

The UK's foreign secretary blasted President Robert Mugabe for "beating his own people to death" and called Zimbabwe's current vote recount a "charade," the Guardian reports. But Mugabe's government, which delayed a recount yesterday, denied any crackdown. "As to whether there's a war, well, they're (opposition) wishing it, but the people of Zimbabwe are peaceful," Mugabe's justice minister said. (More Zimbabwe stories.)

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