Should Mugabe be ousted by force?
afrol News - US President George Bush today joined forces with Kenyan PM Raila Odinga and other Western leaders, calling for the immediate end to President Robert Mugabe's "illegitimate" grip on power in Zimbabwe. But the African Union (AU) today rejected tougher steps against the Mugabe regime.
The US White House today issued a statement, calling for Mr Mugabe's resignation. "As my Administration has made clear, it is time for Robert Mugabe to go," President Bush said.
He also indirectly gave his support to the Kenyan Prime Minister, who last week called on African leaders to oust President Mugabe. "Across the continent, African voices are bravely speaking out to say now is the time for him to step down," Mr Bush said. "These leaders share the desire of ordinary Zimbabweans for a return to peace, democracy, and prosperity. We urge others from the region to step up and join the growing chorus of voices calling for an end to Mugabe's tyranny," the US President added.
Mr Bush's statement came after many other Western leaders had given their support to PM Odinga's call to oust Mr Mugabe. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President and current EU leader Nicolas Sarkozy have also called for Mugabe to step down. Even the normally neutral Swiss government today blamed President Mugabe for the ongoing cholera epidemic, saying the humanitarian crisis could only be solved if Mr Mugabe resigns.
Also former US President Jimmy Carter, a member of "The Elders" panel, today said Mr Mugabe was personally responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. A military option to forcefully remove Mugabe would be a final, last resort, Mr Carter told the US broadcaster 'NPR'. "Maximum pressure by his own peers is what is necessary to bring him down. And I think that if South Africa and the other 13 nations would demand that Mugabe step down, he would have to do it," Mr Carter added.
Zimbabwe President Mugabe, on the other hand, today accused Americans and Britons of plotting an invasion. Mr Mugabe's spokesman told state media the UK and US were "dead set on ensuring that there is an invasion of Zimbabwe but without themselves carrying it out. In those circumstances, they will stop at nothing." Western powers were planning to take the Zimbabwe issue to the UN Security Council to have a UN mission invading the country, he explained.
Meanwhile, the AU said there could be no speaking about military action against Zimbabwe. "Only dialogue between the Zimbabwean parties, supported by the AU and other regional actors, can restore peace and stability to that country," insisted AU spokesman Salva Rweyemamu. He added that it was unlikely the AU would use military action to topple Mr Mugabe.
Mr Rweyemamu said the Kenyan PM was mistaken when calling for AU troops to intervene in Zimbabwe. Mr Odinga, for his part, said that if the AU would not send troops, "then the AU must allow the UN to send its forces into Zimbabwe with immediate effect, take over control of the country and ensure urgent humanitarian assistance to the people dying of cholera and starvation."
Source: Afrol