U.S. calls for Africa to act on Zimbabwe

By Susan Cornwell and Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - African nations must speak out and help deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe following a post-election deadlock and ongoing chronic food shortages, U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday.

He raised doubts about the recent election because Harare has yet to release the results, and urged that the United Nations and African Union take a more active role to resolve the crisis.

"What kind of election is it if you (do) not let the will of the people be known?" Bush told reporters after a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "More leaders in the region need to speak out and the United Nations and the A.U. must play an active role in resolving the situation in Zimbabwe."

Brown agreed the election results must be released to the public.

The vote must be seen "to be fair in the interest of democracy not just in Zimbabwe, but the reputation of democracy throughout Africa and the world," Brown said.

South Africa has come under strong criticism for not doing enough to help resolve the crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe, and Washington has been pushing South Africa to use its leverage.

"It's time for Africa to step up," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a news conference earlier Thursday. "Where is the concern from the African Union and from Zimbabwe's neighbors about what is going on in Zimbabwe?"

She said it was a matter for Zimbabweans whether President Robert Mugabe left office, but that the last few years of his rule had been an "abomination."