Zimbabwe violence escalates
(Read article summary)Opposition activists have been targeted and killed. South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Zimbabwe Friday for talks with President Robert Mugabe.
Post-election violence in Zimbabwe has escalated sharply, with thousands of farmers pushed off their land and gangs loyal to President Robert Mugabe beating to death several opposition members. Fears of a political and economic meltdown have prompted some African leaders to intervene.
The number of opposition members killed has now risen to 32 following Zimbabwe's election on March 29, The Washington Post reports:
In response to the rising violence, South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who has been criticized for his "soft diplomacy" on the crisis, traveled to Zimbabwe on Friday in his capacity as head of the Southern African Development Community, Agence France-Presse reported. He was to meet Mr. Mugabe for the first time since the March vote results were announced. Opposition members said they had not been contacted for any talks with Mr. Mbeki.
The violence in Zimbabwe stems from the fact that Mr. Mugabe lost the first round of presidential elections and has delayed the election results by five weeks, Agence France-Presse explains.
The crisis deepened on Thursday, when the Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party, said it would not participate in a presidential run off, Reuters reports.
