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Botswana shuns summit over Mugabe
Botswana says its President Seretse Khama Ian Khama will boycott a summit of regional leaders because Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has been invited. The country has said that Mr Mugabe should not attend such gatherings until a power-sharing deal has been reached. It is also urging its neighbours not to give legitimacy to the widely-condemned Zimbabwean presidential elections. South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in the Zimbabwean talks, is hosting the summit. Correspondents say Botswana's move to boycott the 14-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit is "unprecedented" and add that it shows growing opposition to Mr Mugabe's continued rule. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Zimbabwean government to lift restrictions on aid deliveries, to stop "a catastrophic humanitarian crisis". "I call on the government of Zimbabwe to fully respect humanitarian principles and the impartiality and neutrality of voluntary and non-governmental organisations, allowing them to operate freely and with unrestricted access to those in need," Mr Ban said in a statement. Posted by: Fred 2008-08-16 |
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