FACTBOX: Developments in Zimbabwe, June 29

Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:49pm EDT
 
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(Reuters) - Following are latest developments in Zimbabwe at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday.

** Denotes new or updated item:

* President Robert Mugabe was sworn in for a new five-year term after he was declared winner of the country's presidential run-off election, in which he was the only candidate.

* The electoral commission said Mugabe won 85.51 percent of the vote, compared to 43.2 percent in March elections.

** The Southern Africa Development Community observer mission said the poll had been marred by violence and did not reflect the will of the people.

* Observers from the Pan-African Parliament called the vote so flawed it should be rerun.

* Mugabe invited opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to his inauguration. Tsvangirai rejected the invitation, saying the ceremony was meaningless after an illegitimate poll.

** Mugabe and the opposition both said they were committed to talks, but none have started.

** The opposition appealed to the African Union on not to welcome Mugabe to an African summit in Egypt. It said it had no plans to talk to the Zimbabwean delegation on the sidelines of the summit.

* U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged China and other powers to back strong steps against Mugabe.

* Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was quoted as saying the African Union should deploy troops in Zimbabwe to resolve a crisis he said had become an embarrassment to Africa.

** Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said it was important the government and opposition talked, adding it was too soon to talk of peacekeeping forces being sent.

* AU peace and security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra also played down the prospects of sending peacekeepers.

* Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he would support international intervention in Zimbabwe and called on the AU to reject Mugabe's rule.

* British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the African Union and the international community must work together to help bring stability to Zimbabwe.

 

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