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US Envoy Say Tsvangirai Should Lead Any Zimbabwe Unity Government

27 April 2008

The top U.S. envoy for Africa says any government of national unity in Zimbabwe should be led by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer giving a news conference in Pretoria on April 24, 2008
Jendayi Frazer gives a news conference in Pretoria 24 April 2008
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer made the comments to reporters on a tour of the region Sunday. She also called on the international community to denounce the on-going political violence in Zimbabwe.

Last week, the state-run Zimbabwe newspaper, The Herald, published an editorial suggesting the idea of a unity government.

While the officials results from the March 29 election have not been released, Zimbabwe's electoral commission confirmed Saturday that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change won control of parliament over the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe. ZANU-PF has controlled parliament without interruption since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980.

The electoral commission said it would invite both sides to review the results of the recount Monday before making them public.

Frazer is touring southern Africa meeting with leaders to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, defeated Mr. Mugabe and won the presidency outright in the March 29 election.

Police in Zimbabwe's capital raided the opposition headquarters on Friday and detained at least 215 people. Authorities said they were targeting people involved in violence following the disputed elections.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called on the international community to take action against the roundup of opposition supporters.

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