From: L' Ermit (lhermit@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Feb 27 2002 - 04:35:23 MST
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,211420,00.html]"Ironing
the lawn in Salisbury, Rhodesia",Simon Hoggart,Saturday February 9,
1980[/url]
[quote]
I recall one faintly pathetic note being struck 150 miles or so north of
Salisbury. A young man, just out of the army, asked if there was any chance
that the British would stay behind to help the white Rhodesians fight if the
settlement went horribly wrong.
I said (fairly) that there was no chance at all, and added - unfairly - that
they could expect to see Lord Soames mount the aircraft steps on March 1,
write the name of the new prime minister on a scratch pad, throw it on to
the tarmac, slam the door and take off for England with a screech of
engines. "Ah, what style" said the young man. "When the British wash their
hands, they use only the finest soap."
[/quote]
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,658679,00.html]"Mugabe
accuses 2 more of treason, Commonwealth leaders expected to fudge their
decision on Zimbabwe's suspension", Ewen MacAskill, and Andrew Meldrum in
Harare, Wednesday February 27, 2002[/url]
[quote]
The Commonwealth is preparing to fudge the issue of Zimbabwe's suspension
this weekend, in spite of Robert Mugabe's government yesterday filing fresh
treason charges against the country's opposition party...
Britain and other countries have dismissed the treason charges as a
last-ditch attempt by Mr Mugabe to stay in power.
But although Zimbabwe is top of the agenda for the Commonwealth heads of
government biennial meeting in Brisbane, diplomatic sources said yesterday
they were shying away from punitive action.
[/quote]
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,656651,00.html]"Mugabe
offered safe passage", Andrew Meldrum in Harare, Monday February 25,
2002[/url]
[quote]
...
Mr Tsvangirai is leading Mr Mugabe in opinion polls with support from nearly
70% of voters. Several political analysts say it would be difficult for Mr
Mugabe to reverse such a wide margin of support for the opposition leader,
either through pre-poll violence or extensive vote-rigging.
...
Fellow African leaders are so opposed to a coup that they are trying to get
Mr Mugabe to agree to accept electoral defeat in return for a comfortable
exile and exemption from any trials for numerous allegations of human rights
abuses.
...
Hundreds of Mr Mugabe's followers ambushed opposition supporters yesterday
after a gathering in Chinhoyi, where opposition leader Mr Tsvangirai vowed
to end a "reign of terror" if he took power.
[/quote]
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