Zuma Calls for UN Intervention in Zimbabwe

South African leader blasts Mugabe, wants election canceled
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2008 6:39 AM CDT
Zuma Calls for UN Intervention in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, center, right, and his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki , center, left, in Harare, Friday, May 9, 2008.    (AP Photo)

Jacob Zuma, the leader of the African National Congress and the most powerful politician in South Africa, called today for the Zimbabwe election to be canceled, saying that the situation was "out of control" and that the UN must intervene. In the most forceful denunciation yet of Robert Mugabe by its powerful neighbor, Zuma told a conference that Mugabe's party had betrayed the African liberation movement, reports the Mail and Guardian.

"We cannot agree with Zanu-PF. We cannot agree with them on values," Zuma said. His comments put him at odds with Thabo Mbeki, the South African president who continues to support Mugabe as a fellow liberation hero. Zuma, South Africa's likely next president, said that he could not support the regime, since "we fought for the right of people to vote, we fought for democracy." (More Zimbabwe stories.)

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