“Mugabe could face trial for human rights violations” British Minister

LONDON – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe could face trial for crimes against humanity like ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor, a British foreign minister said on Monday.

The leader is close to being considered a dictator by the international community, and may one day be prosecuted, Lord David Triesman said. Triesman, responsible for African affairs, said Mugabe’s actions in causing the political and economic collapse of his country could see him fall into the same category as Taylor, whose international war crimes trial started Monday at The Hague, Netherlands.”I think Robert Mugabe is probably at one of those points where dictators have to consider whether if they press on they don’t fall into the category of committing crimes against humanity on the scale that the law prescribes,” Triesman told reporters during a briefing focused on the twin crises of Zimbabwe and Sudan.Though Britain has been very vocal in its public criticism of Mugabe for some time, Triesman’s comments signal a step up in the rhetoric.An official at the Zimbabwean Embassy in London said he would not comment on Triesman’s ‘personal opinions’.During a tour of Africa last week, British Prime Minister Tony Blair surprised many by voicing support for South African President Thabo Mbeki’s efforts to mediate a solution to Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis through “quiet diplomacy”.Many had expected Blair to use the platform to issue a customary strong worded rebuke to the Mugabe regime.Mbeki was appointed in March by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate on Zimbabwe, and Triesman said Britain would continue to back him until August when he unveils proposals on narrowing the wide differences between Mugabe’s ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.”It’s imperative that the SADC/Mbeki mission succeed and I have no doubt that Tony Blair will have said that he hopes that’s the case,” Triesman said.Britain has been frustrated by the inertia of Zimbabwe’s neighbours, as the country has slid into a six-year political, civil and economic crisis, but has not wanted to take a lead in tackling the problems, saying it wanted to avoid being seen as the “old colonial master”.On Friday, Mugabe accused Britain of backing what he called a terror campaign by his opponents, saying security officials were on high alert following the ‘shameless arm twisting tactics’ by Britain and political opponents to oust him.Nampa-APTriesman, responsible for African affairs, said Mugabe’s actions in causing the political and economic collapse of his country could see him fall into the same category as Taylor, whose international war crimes trial started Monday at The Hague, Netherlands.”I think Robert Mugabe is probably at one of those points where dictators have to consider whether if they press on they don’t fall into the category of committing crimes against humanity on the scale that the law prescribes,” Triesman told reporters during a briefing focused on the twin crises of Zimbabwe and Sudan.Though Britain has been very vocal in its public criticism of Mugabe for some time, Triesman’s comments signal a step up in the rhetoric.An official at the Zimbabwean Embassy in London said he would not comment on Triesman’s ‘personal opinions’.During a tour of Africa last week, British Prime Minister Tony Blair surprised many by voicing support for South African President Thabo Mbeki’s efforts to mediate a solution to Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis through “quiet diplomacy”.Many had expected Blair to use the platform to issue a customary strong worded rebuke to the Mugabe regime.Mbeki was appointed in March by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate on Zimbabwe, and Triesman said Britain would continue to back him until August when he unveils proposals on narrowing the wide differences between Mugabe’s ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.”It’s imperative that the SADC/Mbeki mission succeed and I have no doubt that Tony Blair will have said that he hopes that’s the case,” Triesman said.Britain has been frustrated by the inertia of Zimbabwe’s neighbours, as the country has slid into a six-year political, civil and economic crisis, but has not wanted to take a lead in tackling the problems, saying it wanted to avoid being seen as the “old colonial master”.On Friday, Mugabe accused Britain of backing what he called a terror campaign by his opponents, saying security officials were on high alert following the ‘shameless arm twisting tactics’ by Britain and political opponents to oust him.Nampa-AP