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UN Security Council 'regrets' Zimbabwe election decision
The UN has said it regrets the decision to press ahead with the Zimbabwe presidential run off vote, but did not call the election illegal.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:58 June 28, 2008
- President Robert Mugabe is now the lone candidate after rival Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted the poll
- Image Credit: AP
Washington: The UN has said it regrets the decision to press ahead with the Zimbabwe presidential run off vote, but did not call the election illegal.
The Security Council issued a statement saying that conditions for fair elections were there and that “it was a matter of deep regret that the election went ahead in these circumstances."
However the group stopped short of declaring the result – President Robert Mugabe is now the lone candidate after rival Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted the poll – illegitimate after objections from South Africa.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice added: "There was a strong sentiment... that what is going on in Zimbabwe is simply unacceptable in the 21st century and it can't be ignored by the international community.''
The European Commission has already declared the vote "a sham" and said it would not recognize the result of a "hollow and meaningless" election.
In London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Zimbabwe's presidential election was a "new low".
"As Nelson Mandela has said, there has been a failure of leadership in Zimbabwe," said Brown in a statement.
"Yesterday's attempt to hold an election was a new low," added Brown. "The world is uniting in rejecting the illegitimate regime of Robert Mugabe."
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