Zimbabwe: G8 Agree for Appointment of UN Special Envoy

Posted to the web 9 July 2008 Luyanda Makapela Japan Leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) Summit have agreed to press for the appointment of a United Nations (UN) special envoy to assist in a prompt resolution in Zimbabwe. "We recommend the appointment of a special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to report on the political, humanitarian, human rights and security situation and to support regional efforts to take forward mediation between political parties," according to a statement released by the G8 leaders on Tuesday. The G8 vowed that they will take further steps, while introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for violence. "We express concern with the fact that the Zimbabwean authorities pressed ahead with the presidential election despite the absence of appropriate conditions for... [read full story]