Wednesday, 6 February, 2002, 00:16 GMT
Chief Zimbabwe poll observer named


Mugabe consented to observers after international pressure

Former Nigerian head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar is to lead a
Commonwealth mission to Zimbabwe to monitor the forthcoming presidential
elections.
The announcement came as an advance party of Commonwealth officials arrived
in Zimbabwe on Tuesday to pave the way for the main group.

Last week, the 54-nation Commonwealth rejected British calls to suspend
Zimbabwe from the organisation, but decided to send monitors to oversee the
elections.

Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary General
Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said the first observers would
arrive in Zimbabwe later this week, followed by a main group of about 40
monitors later this month.

General Abubakar, who was Nigerian head of state until 1999, previously led
a Commonwealth mission which oversaw parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe in
June, 2000.

Mugabe conditions

After coming under international pressure, Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe has said he will allow Commonwealth and European Union observers, as
long as they do not include any British members.


Mr Mugabe has accused Britain of supporting the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC).

The EU says it is still awaiting an official invitation from Zimbabwe to
send observers and will impose selective sanctions on Zimbabwe if it does
not allow its monitors to deploy.

The first of a group of 150 European observers is expected to arrive in
Zimbabwe later this week.

Commonwealth demand

The Commonwealth has insisted that all political parties must be allowed to
campaign freely in the run-up to the elections on 9-10 March.

The Zimbabwean Government recently pushed a series of laws through
parliament stifling opposition to President Mugabe and restricting the
freedom of the media.

Mr Mugabe faces the toughest challenge to his 22-year rule from the MDC.

The MDC says about 100 of its supporters have been killed in the past two
years by activists from Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party.
-
BBC News

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