Putin rebukes 'dictator' Mugabe

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By Staff Reporter

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe a dictator Wednesday during a speech opening a Group of Eight summit that was to focus on helping Africa.

Putin said aid would be useless if African leaders were corrupt, and added: "We should not be afraid to stop aid to dictators, like Zimbabwe's Mugabe."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is hosting the summit and had placed Africa at the centre of its agenda, expressed concern last week that trouble in Zimbabwe would make it difficult for him to persuade leaders of the other G8 countries to pour more money into Africa.

Putin's rebuke of the 81-year-old Zimbabwean leader -- rare in international diplomacy -- was being interpreted by observers as a statement of intent by the G8 leaders to put a squeeze on African despots.

According to one diplomat, Mugabe is seen by G8 leaders as a "headboy of an old school cabal of African despots" whose immediate departure holds the key to greater co-operation between the West and Africa

In recent weeks, Mugabe launched a so-called urban renewal drive aimed at clearing away shantytowns, markets and other structures deemed illegal. Aid workers and opposition leaders estimate the campaign has displaced up to 1.5 million people.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists Monday in South Africa that the demolitions appeared aimed at his supporters among the urban poor and diverting attention from Zimbabwe's economic failings.

The economic crisis in Zimbabwe has seen inflation soar over 144 per cent and unemployment reach around 70 per cent. In addition, an estimated four million Zimbabweans are in urgent need of food.
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