G8 heads urge African leaders to oust Mugabe

CAMPBELL CLARK From Tuesday's Globe and Mail TOYAKO, Japan — Group of Eight leaders yesterday pushed the heads of African nations to take strong steps toward forcing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe out of power, exposing divisions between major developed countries and Africans, who raised fears that tougher action might tip the volatile country into civil war. In two sessions at a summit in Japan, G8 leaders — including Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper— grilled representatives of seven African nations on what they view as failed diplomatic efforts to bring stability to Zimbabwe, warning that the West opposes Africa's tolerance of Mr. Mugabe's regime and that the continent's economy and development could suffer as a result of that tolerance. Several G8 leaders warned that Zimbabwe will face new international... [read full story]