Mugabe Attendance Won't Deter Britain

from Sky News

The attendance of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe at a global food summit will not deter the British government from sending a represenative, Downing Street said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander will not be "meeting Mugabe or having anything to do with him" during his time at the summit.

Although the Prime Minister boycotted an Eu-Africa summit in Portugal last December because Mugabe was attending, this latest summit is thought too important to miss.

"Our position on Mugabe is well known," said the spokesman.

"We think it is particularly unfortunate that he had decided to attend this meeting, given what he has done in relation to contributing to the difficulties with food supplies in Zimbabwe."

The Secretary will therefore not be having any "engagement" or "interaction" with Mugabe.

The Zimbabwe president, his wife and government officials left the chaos in their homeland behind to attend the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) event.

European Union officials have placed a travel ban on the veteran leader but as the meeting is being staged by the United Nations, he is allowed to take part.

Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown with inflation standing at 165,000%, unemployment at 80% and there is a lack of basic necessities including food and fuel.

Some 3.5 million people have fled to neighbouring countries to escape poverty and malnutrition.

The trip is Mugabe's first official foreign visit since controversial presidential elections on March 29, which did not produce a winner.

Around 60 heads of state and government - including Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on his first trip to Western Europe as Iran's president - are expected to meet from Tuesday to Thursday.

On the agenda are global problems of poverty and malnutrition caused by steep rises in food prices.

Gerry Jackson, from expatriate radio station SW Radio Africa, that broadcasts from London, said: "It is outrageous that he (Mugabe) has been invited to any international forum when he is involved in a state-sponsored, incredibly violent campaign against the opposition."

A British Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is a matter of concern to us and we would prefer that he did not attend."