President Obama leads US drive to topple Robert Mugabe

[spindrifter]

in Zimbabwe

From The Times January 28, 2009

Tim Reid in Washington and Jonathan Clayton in Johannesburg

President Obama wants a fresh approach to toppling Robert Mugabe and is discussing with aides an unprecedented, US-led diplomatic push to get tough new UN sanctions imposed against the Zimbabwe regime, The Times has learned.

During talks Mr Obama has had with his top Africa advisers in recent weeks, the central idea they focused on was taking the issue of Zimbabwe before the UN Security Council, but for the first time to combine such a move with an intense diplomatic effort to persuade Russia and China not to block the initiative.

According to a senior aide present at the discussions, the goal of taking the issue of Zimbabwe to the Security Council would be to pass a series of "strong" sanctions, including a ban on arms sales and foreign investment. They also want to expand significantly the number of ruling Zanu-PF party officials subject to sanctions.

Last July, after Mr Mugabe was accused of rigging the elections to stay in power, China and Russia, who have significant financial interests in Zimbabwe, vetoed moves to impose UN sanctions. Mr Obama and his aides believe that, with the growing international outcry over conditions there and the devastating loss of life from the cholera outbreak, Beijing and Moscow can now be persuaded at the very least to abstain when the issue of sanctions comes to another vote.

<more>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Good! That guy's got to go! nt

[spindrifter]

2. He has ruined Zimbabwe and it is spilling over the borders.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes! It's spreading chaos to other countries. nt

[babylonsister]

4. Good. Another great message we're on the right track. nt

[Captain Hilts]

10. It feels good, doesn't it?

[spanone]

5. that's my President!!

[Idealism]

6. Would like to see Mrs. Rice push for a war crimes trial for Mugabe, too

[babylonsister]

8. The Ambassador, or the unemployed Rice?

:evilgrin:

Susan Rice is going to be really important. Initially I wondered why she'd be going to the U.N., but that hopefully will be exactly where she belongs.

She's a very smart woman I respect a lot. I'm sure our president does, too.

[Idealism]

9. I think she can get things done there

Whether she embraces the U.N. job or not, I think she will excel at it.

[babylonsister]

11. Just maybe the value of the UN might be reevaluated.

I can hope. If it's anything like Congress, fagetaboudit!

[Traveling_Home]

13. If Mugabe and his cronies know they will face war crimes trials....

if they leave and give up power, why would they ever agree to leave and give up power?

[Idealism]

14. Agreeing to be tried is not a pre-requisite

[Canuckistanian]

7. Good luck

He's survived several attempts to unseat him. Yet he remains firmly in power.

[madrchsod]

12. another no names times article

just once i`d like to read something from the times that has an actual name.

[babylonsister]

15. ... reporting...

Tim Reid in Washington and Jonathan Clayton in Johannesburg