Sanctions? Mugabe

Sanctions against Zimbabwe came a step closer today with the foreign secretary's condemnation of Robert Mugabe's election victory.

Praising the faith of ordinary Zimbabwean voters Jack Straw accused the ruling Zanu PF party of being "bent for months".

He said the party had used the full apparatus of the state to "distort" a free and fair election. "The Zimbabwean government has subjected its electorate to two years of violence and intimidation. They have harassed opposition candidates and supporters, manipulated the voters' roll and restricted access to polling stations," he said.

"They have exploited every instrument of the state to distort the electoral process: military, police, media, youth militias and the bureaucracy.

"Zimbabweans have plainly been denied their fundamental right to choose by whom they are governed. Robert Mugabe may claim to have won this election. But the people of Zimbabwe have lost.''

During his Commons statement, Jack Straw set out the preliminary findings of Commonwealth observers to the country's presidential elections.

"I have today received the preliminary report of the Commonwealth Observer Group. It says, quote 'the violence and intimidation created a climate of fear and suspicion'. It says 'thousands of Zimbabwean citizens were disenfranchised'. It says there was 'a systematic campaign of intimidation'," he told the Commons.

At a European summit in Barcelona this weekend, Straw will urge EU heads of government to consider hardening sanctions. He said that Britain would "work closely" with the USA, G8 nations and southern African states on a possible broadening of action against the Mugabe regime.

On the question of Commonwealth suspension for Zimbabwe, Straw regretted its decision not to act and told MPs that Britain would await the findings of a "troika" of Nigeria, South Africa and Australia.

Meanwhile, Britain will support the Zimbabwean people by maintaining its programme of humanitarian aid and assistance in the fight against HIV, he said.

But he warned that the UK will continue to prevent the Zanu PF government gaining access to international financial support.

"Change will have to come to Zimbabwe. One day, I hope soon, I look forward to a democratic government of Zimbabwe acting in the interests of its people and taking its rightful place in modern Africa," he said.

Straw has already accused Mugabe of attempting to retain "power at all costs" following his victory in Zimbabwe's elections.

The election, which saw Mugabe secure 1,634,382 votes - substantially more than the 50 per cent needed for victory - was marked by allegations of widespread vote-rigging, intimidation and the closure of many polling stations.

Straw's decision has been complicated by the response from key African powers which have backed the result.

Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa have welcomed the Mugabe victory and the Organisation of African Unity said the election was "transparent, free and fair".

The foreign secretary will take soundings from EU partners, the United States and from the Commonwealth before deciding on his course of action.

The Conservatives have condemned the Zimbabwean regime and are calling on the government to take tougher action against his regime.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram demanded that Straw make it clear that the UK does not recognise the "sordid, dishonest, underhand, undemocratic'' result.

"It is wrong and it should not be allowed to stand," he said.

"The murder, torture and intimidation which have been in evidence for the last few months have all clearly been designed to rig this election,'' said Ancram.

"The British government should begin immediately to build a coalition with the objective of seeing democracy restored in Zimbabwe and Mugabe's evil and corrupt regime removed."

Amnesty International said it was alarmed about the conduct of the elections.

"We are deeply concerned for the safety of those arrested in the light of the well-established pattern of 'disappearances,' cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by Zimbabwean security forces,'' a spokesman said.