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August 2011 - Vol 36, National News

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe Blasts Western Leaders at UN Address

By Special correspondent   Fri, Sep 23, 2011

imbabwe President Robert Mugabe hurled repeated criticisms at Western leaders during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

President Mugabe accused NATO of attacking Libya in order to “control and own its abundant fuel resources,” and blasted air raids in support of Libya's opposition as “blatant, illegal, brutal, callous, and murderous bombings” that intentionally targeted Libyan towns.

He also expressed doubt that the NATO-supported ouster of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi would help enhance democracy, saying that Libya's Transitional National Council was illegally imposed on the country by foreign leaders.

In addition, Mr. Mugabe criticized the International Criminal Court for what he said was “selective justice,” claiming that the international tribunal's alleged tendency to focus on African countries has “eroded the credibility of the ICC on the African continent.”

Mr. Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since it won independence from Britain in 1980.

Following disputed elections in 2008, Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party entered into a contentious unity government with the opposition group Movement for Democratic Change. Observers said the elections were seriously marred by violence, most of it committed by ZANU-PF supporters.

In its most recent human rights report, the U.S. State Department said members of Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party continue to use beatings, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests to abuse and harass political opponents and restrict their activities.

By Special correspondent

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