By Nelson Banya
HARARE, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday he would not tolerate 'persecution' by President Robert Mugabe, after a high-level EU delegation called for implementation of power sharing.
Swedish International Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson said targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe would not be lifted until human rights abuses ended in a country with a ruined economy that needs billions of dollars for recovery.
Speaking at a rally to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of his MDC party, Tsvangirai said he would not stand by as Mugabe's ZANU-PF 'continues to violate the law, persecutes our members of parliament, spreads the language of hate, invades our productive farms ... ignores our international treaties.'
The visit by EU Aid and Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht and the Swedish EU presidency is the first since the EU began targeted sanctions in 2002 against members of Mugabe's government for alleged human rights violations.
The EU delegation said relations with Zimbabwe were entering a 'new phase' but full cooperation hinged on the implementation of a power-sharing deal.
On Saturday, Mugabe welcomed the EU delegation with 'open arms', as he put it; a change in tone which may suggest he is more willing to cooperate with Western countries as Zimbabwe seeks billions of dollars in aid to rebuild its ruined economy.
The agreement between Mugabe and his long-time adversary Tsvangirai has been beset with problems as their parties accuse each other of stalling the process by not fully implementing the deal, which Zimbabweans hoped would end hardships.
(Reporting by Nelson Banya; Writing by Michael Georgy) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) Keywords: ZIMBABWE EU/ (nelson.banya@thomsonreuters.com; +263 4 799112-5) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
HARARE, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday he would not tolerate 'persecution' by President Robert Mugabe, after a high-level EU delegation called for implementation of power sharing.
Swedish International Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson said targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe would not be lifted until human rights abuses ended in a country with a ruined economy that needs billions of dollars for recovery.
Speaking at a rally to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of his MDC party, Tsvangirai said he would not stand by as Mugabe's ZANU-PF 'continues to violate the law, persecutes our members of parliament, spreads the language of hate, invades our productive farms ... ignores our international treaties.'
The visit by EU Aid and Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht and the Swedish EU presidency is the first since the EU began targeted sanctions in 2002 against members of Mugabe's government for alleged human rights violations.
The EU delegation said relations with Zimbabwe were entering a 'new phase' but full cooperation hinged on the implementation of a power-sharing deal.
On Saturday, Mugabe welcomed the EU delegation with 'open arms', as he put it; a change in tone which may suggest he is more willing to cooperate with Western countries as Zimbabwe seeks billions of dollars in aid to rebuild its ruined economy.
The agreement between Mugabe and his long-time adversary Tsvangirai has been beset with problems as their parties accuse each other of stalling the process by not fully implementing the deal, which Zimbabweans hoped would end hardships.
(Reporting by Nelson Banya; Writing by Michael Georgy) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) Keywords: ZIMBABWE EU/ (nelson.banya@thomsonreuters.com; +263 4 799112-5) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
