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Commonwealth decides to extend year-old suspension of Zimbabwe
Woe to Bobland! - Didnât they promise to quit if this happened?Commonwealth leaders agreed Sunday to continue their year-old suspension of Robert Mugabeâs Zimbabwe after a debate that had threatened to split Western and developing-world members of Britainâs former colonial empire. The suspension was indefinite, pending demanded reforms by the Zimbabwe leader, Commonwealth heads of state said. The announcement was a defeat for Mugabe, who had threatened to pull out of the 54-nation bloc completely if its four-day summit ended without an end to the suspension. Several -- although not all -- African and developing nations in the bloc had demanded lifting of the suspension, arguing that dialogue and engagement, not isolation, would bring change in Zimbabwe. yep....bluff called a**hole The Commonwealth, whose nations represent one-third of the worldâs 6 billion people, banned Zimbabwe from its decision-making councils last year, after Mugabe was widely accused of rigging re-election to continue his 23-year rule. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is charged with monitoring Zimbabwe to judge if it moves toward the demanded human rights and democratic reforms. In its statement Sunday, the Commonwealth said the Obasanjo should report back "when he believes sufficient progress has been made."
Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-07 |
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