Posted on 08/23/2002 4:05:07 AM PDT by kattracks
Zimbabwe heated up its war of words with the United States, saying Washington's announcement that it was working to "foster the development of democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe" was a threat to regional peace.
"The claims constitute a clear and present threat to regional peace, stability, solidarity and good neighborliness," a spokesman for President Robert Mugabe's government, Jonathan Moyo said in a statement.
Moyo, who as the government's information minister has orchestrated a clampdown on the private and foreign press, said the party was "outraged by the cowboy tactics that (US President George W.) Bush's men are trying to introduce into our country and our region."
Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which has ruled the southern African nation since independence in 1980, urged the government to demand an explanation for the US remarks because of their "grave implications."
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Thursday denounced US and other western criticism of his government as a racist campaign to undermine his nation's independence.
But the US State Department quickly reaffirmed that it was working with other nations to encourage democratic change in Zimbabwe.
"The United States continues to consult with countries in the region and throughout the world on how we can work together to foster development of democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe and encourage free and fair elections there," State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said Thursday.
Mugabe's regime has become increasingly isolated since the March presidential elections, which independent and foreign observers condemned as severely flawed, citing widespread claims of vote fraud and violence against opposition supporters.
'cowboy tactics'? Like what, defending honor and freedom?
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