Zimbabwe: Responsibility now rests with African neighbours

3.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Jul 2008

A resolution, passed by the European Parliament today, on the situation in Zimbabwe says that a transitional government of national unity would help end the climate of terror sweeping through Zimbabwe since the presidential elections campaign started.

The resolution also asks to tighten up sanctions against members of the Mugabe regime and others responsible for grave violations of human rights, if mediation efforts by the Southern African Development Community are not accepted and the state-sponsored violence is not ended, and to press for sanctions to be adopted at UN level, including an arms embargo.

Commenting, Graham Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South West and Gibraltar and Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, said

"It is high time that the African Union took real action. No longer can this conspiracy of silence continue. One wonders why the International Criminal Court has not yet issued a warrant for Mugabe's arrest."