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HARARE - Zimbabwe's government spokesman on Wednesday accused the South African press of trying to destabilize the region by running negative stories about President Robert Mugabe.

Citing coverage in Johannesburg's Sunday Times of the ruling party's congress last weekend, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said the stories were "a clear and present threat to regional peace and security."

"All the papers are edited by white Rhodesians. Now they are trying to put on ties and claim press freedom," Moyo said, referring to Zimbabwe's name before the end of white-minority rule in 1980.

"We are saying they must be brought to book, because what they are doing is criminal."

Moyo denounced foreign press reports for leading the United States and the European Union to consider sanctions against Mugabe and his closest aides.

"You have young people running some countries in Europe who need some lessons in history," Moyo said. "The chief ignoramus is (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair. He is one of the most ignorant leaders on foreign affairs you can find. It is very dangerous."

Moyo is known for his scathing attacks on the foreign press and on independent newspapers in Zimbabwe.

On Wednesday, he singled out the Sunday Times in Johannesburg, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Britain's Times and Independent newspapers, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Sydney Morning Herald for what he said was racist coverage of Zimbabwe.

His latest remarks came as Zimbabwe's parliament is considering a government-drafted law that would essentially bar foreigners from working as journalists in Zimbabwe and require local journalists to adhere to a stringent code of conduct.

Parliament, dominated by Mugabe loyalists, could pass the bill before the end of the week, Moyo said.

Mugabe's government has come under widespread criticism for infringing on press freedoms and intimidating judges, as well as for failing to end political violence that has mainly targetted opposition supporters. - Nampa-AFP

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