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BBC: Mugabe poll challenge in court
EFL
You hear quite a few shrill voices defending Hugo Chavez in Venezuala, but not even Mugabe’s regime is treated like a toxic waste spill. I can’t figure out whether he is on thin ice or whether everone just figures that African regimes are messed up by definition.
Packed High Court in Zimbabwe has begun hearing an opposition appeal against the victory of Robert Mugabe in last year’s presidential election. Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the result - in which he came second - was rigged. The government denies foul play, saying the results reflected the will of the people - nah nobody will buy that vote. A BBC correspondent says the opposition have little chance of forcing an early election even if the appeal is upheld but the issue is stoking tension. Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party refuses to hold talks with the MDC over Zimbabwe’s economic crisis unless it recognises his election victory.
Deadlocked in economic chicken as the ice gets thinner.
"The elections were stifled at best because the president, one of the contenders, became the rule maker," lawyer Jeremy Gauntlet said in his preliminary statement to the court. Mr Gauntlet is a high-profile South African lawyer, who has previously represented Nelson Mandela.
Odd choice - wonder how Winnie and Nelson feel about Bob.
Posted by: Super Hose 2003-11-03
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=20717