Bush Wants Mugabe Out, But AU Rejects Tougher Measures
By VOA News
09 December 2008
U.S. President George Bush has joined calls for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, but the African Union is rejecting tougher action against the long-time leader.
In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Bush said "it is time for Mr. Mugabe to go." He called on more Africans to demand an end to what he termed Mr. Mugabe's "tyranny."
But a spokesman for AU chairman and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said Tuesday that only dialogue and not military action can resolve Zimbabwe's problems.
Those problems include a deadly cholera outbreak, food shortages, hyperinflation, and a stalemate in efforts to form a new government.
Mugabe spokesman George Charamba Tuesday accused the West of using the cholera outbreak to advocate an invasion.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga are among the leaders that have issued calls this week for Mr. Mugabe to resign. Mr. Odinga said troops should be sent in to take control of Zimbabwe's dire humanitarian situation.
The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe stood at nearly 14,000, with 589 people dead. It warned that 60,000 people could be infected if the epidemic gets further out of control.
Efforts to improve the situation have been hampered by the impasse in power-sharing talks between Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition. The sides signed a basic agreement in September but have not carried it out amid a dispute over which side will control key ministries.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
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