Brussels, 25/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the presidential elections that were shaping up to be a parody of democracy in Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is sticking to his guns and continuing with the second round of the presidential elections on 27 June 2008. The European Parliament's development committee is calling for the establishment of an interim government of national unity while awaiting the holding of new elections. Should Robert Mugabe be re-elected president, the MEPs call on EU member states to refuse to recognise the regime. This was the main message of a draft resolution adopted on 25 June ahead of a debate in plenary in the second week of July.
A transition government, which would include members of the Movement for Democratic Change (the opposition party led by Morgan Tvsangirai) and members of Robert Mugabe's party Zanu-PF, would allow an end to the climate of terror and uncertainty in Zimbabwe since the first round of the elections in March 2008, which Morgan Tsvangirai won. The draft resolution also calls on the Council of the EU to issue stronger sanctions against members of Robert Mugabe's regime guilty of serious human rights violations, if Zimbabwe rejects SADC's mediation attempts and if the campaign of organised repression continues. United Nations sanctions, notably an arms embargo, are also called for. (A.N./ transl. fl)