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PM urges Zimbabwe cholera action

Gordon Brown has urged the world to tell Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe "enough is enough" amid growing concern over the country's cholera outbreak.

The prime minister said the crisis, which has claimed nearly 600 lives, had become an international emergency.

Government in Zimbabwe was now broken and the state was unable or unwilling to protect its people, he said.

Mr Brown added that medicine would get to those who needed it, regardless of any differences with Mr Mugabe.

'Human rights'

Mr Brown did not explicitly call for Mr Mugabe to step down, but said world leaders should stand together to defend human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe.

In a statement, Mr Brown said that over the coming days the first priority would be delivering aid to Zimbabwe, such as rehydration and testing packs.

He said: "This is now an international rather than a national emergency. International because disease crosses borders.

"International because the systems of government in Zimbabwe are now broken. There is no state capable or willing of protecting its people.

"International because - not least in the week of the 60th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights - we must stand together to defend human rights and democracy, to say firmly to Mugabe that enough is enough."

Mr Brown said he had "been in close contact with African leaders to press for stronger action to give the Zimbabwean people the government they deserve".

He added: "The people of Zimbabwe voted for a better future. It is our duty to support that aspiration."

He also said he hoped the United Nations Security Council would meet "urgently" to consider the country's plight.

'Gross violations'

Mr Brown has joined a growing list of international leaders in condemning Mr Mugabe.

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said it was "well past time" for him to leave office.

And the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said African nations should come together to use military force if Mr Mugabe refused to go.

Archbishop Tutu said Mr Mugabe had committed "gross violations" against Zimbabwe's people and ruined "a wonderful country".

I think there is the potential for Africa to take a decisive stand against Mugabe in the days to come Douglas Alexander International Development Secretary

His comments came a day after Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga said African governments should oust Zimbabwe's leader.

UK International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Two's Newsnight that he welcomed the archbishop's comments, but dealing with the humanitarian crisis was of paramount importance.

"I think the first responsibility is to provide humanitarian assistance. The second responsibility is to work with regional partners to affect the change that we want," he said.

He said there was not currently a consensus on the UN Security Council over Zimbabwe, even for further targeted sanctions, but said "the new noises that are emerging from Africa this week" were welcomed by the UK.

Mr Alexander added: "I think there is the potential for Africa to take a decisive stand against Mugabe in the days to come."

Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to share power in September to tackle the country's economic meltdown but they have been unable to agree on the allocation of cabinet posts.

The deadlocked agreement followed disputed elections, which both men claimed to have won.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7768740.stm

I think that this article is very factual and interesting. It is biased, supporting the PM, but I’m on the same side too. I think that what Robert Mugabe is doing to the beautiful country of Zimbabwe is horrifying, and I wonder why he doesn’t care for so many people who are in need of food and shelter. I learned that Zimbabwe is in a crisis, and that help needs to be sent to the people in need. I also learned about Zimbabwe’s corrupt governing system. I have also learned that many international powers would like Mugabe to step off the role of president, but that he refuses. In another article about Zimbabwe’s economic crisis, it said that the conditions in Zimbabwe were like that of Auschwitz. In my opinion, I think that that was probably exaggerated, but still, looking at the pictures of those exceptionally skinny families, it really makes me feel disgusted at how ignorant and uncaring the government is about the people who are suffering from cholera.