South African Prez to Plead With Mugabe to Save Race

Results of uncontested race should be ignored, Britain insists
By Ambreen Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2008 4:30 AM CDT
South African Prez to Plead With Mugabe to Save Race
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the international community should reject runoff results if Mugabe runs uncontested this Friday.   (AP Photo/Akira Suemori,pool)

The president of South Africa is is flying today to Zimbabwe to plead with strongman Robert Mugabe to save this week's presidential election after Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew to protest government violence. Britain’s foreign secretary said an uncontested race would be “the most rigged election in African history" and called on nations to refuse to recognize the results, reports the Times of London.

Britain is also pushing the UN to intervene despite some strong opposition from member countries. South Africa has hinted Britain's position, supported by the US, unfairly favors the opposition. Mugabe’s intimidation continued yesterday with 60 people removed from opposition offices by government forces. (More Robert Mugabe stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X