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http://www.smh.com.au/news/0201/10/world/world11.html Sydney Morning Herald January 10, 2002 Britain gives ultimatum to Mugabe By Peter Fray London: Britain will move to have Zimbabwe expelled from the Commonwealth unless the Mugabe Government backs off from its proposed clampdown on press freedoms and political opposition. The expulsion, threatened on Tuesday by the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, would be proposed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum, Queensland, in March. The European Union has announced it will discuss sanctions against Zimbabwe at the end of the month. The United States has also signalled its willingness to join international action against the African nation. Legislation limiting election monitoring, public rallies and strikes and effectively banning foreign journalists from working in Zimbabwe is due to be passed by President Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party over the next few days. The laws will give police new powers of detention and make it illegal for local press to print or air derogatory comments about Mr Mugabe, who is soon expected to announce the date for the presidential election. Jack Straw will discuss the move with Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, at a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers in London this month. It was unclear last night if Britain had sufficient support to expel Zimbabwe from the 54-nation grouping, but the Foreign Office said it would press ahead regardless. The Zimbabwean Government said the threat of suspension would not prevent it from passing the legislation and denounced Britain for meddling in the affairs of another country. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
