Brown: Full weight of world against Mugabe
Gordon Brown has returned to the UK after the G8 summit to say Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is running out of hiding places.
Updating the House of Commons on the outcomes of the three-day summit the prime minister said he hoped the United Nations would turn the “full weight” of the international community against the Zimbabwean president.
A UN arms embargo and financial sanctions against 14 members of Mr Mugabe’s inner circle are being discussed in New York this week following the Hokkaido, Japan, summit.
Mr Brown said the “deepening tragedy” of Zimbabwe’s political situation could be resolved as a result.
“With worldwide sanctions and a worldwide arms embargo, our aim is that there be no hiding place and no safe haven for the criminal cabal that surrounds Mugabe,” he told MPs.
“And now that the G8 has taken its decision, we propose that the United Nations puts the full weight of the international community against the actions of an illegitimate government.”
The prime minister continued to update MPs on the other major issues discussed in Japan, namely the doubling of oil prices, rising food prices and the increased cost of money.
He said these “triple shocks” were raising serious questions about the stability of the world economy.
“Three shocks that, it is now agreed, cannot be solved by traditional monetary means alone but require direct action that will tackle the sources of oil and food inflation and make for more stable commodity, agricultural and financial markets,” Mr Brown explained.
He also detailed the economic and environmental imperative to break the world’s dependence on oil as well as revealing the G8’s commitment to providing $120 billion (£61 billion) worth of climate investment funds at the World Bank.
“Just as on Zimbabwe where we have seen the growth of an international coalition for change, there is a growing agreement on the need for detailed collaborative actions on energy, climate change, trade and international development.”
Responding to the prime minister’s statement, David Cameron congratulated Mr Brown for putting Zimbabwe at the top of the G8 agenda, saying he helped to ensure “real progress” was made.
But the Conservative party leader said the same could not be said for the prime minister’s record on energy.
“What [British voters] need is the government on their side, the prime minister talks a lot about global oil markets. but isn’t there something he can do for people in the UK who need a car to get to work?
“People want to know the outcome of the G8 is going to help people in this country.”
