London Lass
06-25-2008, 12:28 PM
Mugabe knighthood to be withdrawn
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's honorary Knighthood is to be withdrawn by the Queen, the BBC has learned.
Mr Mugabe, condemned over violence ahead of a presidential run-off election, was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1994.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband recommended to the Queen that he be stripped of the honour - and the Queen has approved that request.
Gordon Brown has faced calls in the Commons for its withdrawal.
Earlier this month, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked the prime minister: "What message does it send that a man who brought ruin and starvation to his country continues to be honoured by a knighthood from ours?"
Human rights
Mr Brown had said he was "less interested in the symbols than the substance" of the crisis in Zimbabwe but a Foreign Office spokesman said the decision had now been taken to strip Mr Mugabe of his knighthood.
"This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided," he said.
It comes as Mr Brown prepares "intensified sanctions" against individuals in the Mugabe regime including travel and financial restrictions which will be extended to "the criminal cabal" trying to keep Mr Mugabe in power.
The UK government is also working with the England Cricket Board to stop a Zimbabwe tour next year.
Conservative leader David Cameron urged a full visa ban for Mr Mugabe and his officials, during exchanges with Mr Brown at prime minister's questions.
It follows the US announced it would not recognise the outcome of Friday's presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe.
Peaceful transition call
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out due to the violence, but Mr Mugabe says it will go ahead.
Mr Brown told MPs the UK was ready to commit "substantial resources to Zimbabwe once democracy returns".
He said he wanted a peaceful transition of power in Zimbabwe.
"We are preparing intensified sanctions, financial and travel sanctions, against named members of the Mugabe regime," he said.
"We do know the names of the individuals who are surrounding Mugabe at the moment.
"We know the names, therefore, of the criminal cabal that is trying to keep him in power and we will name these individuals and these will be part of the next stage of the sanctions."
'Universal anger'
While he did "not want to do further damage" to the Zimbabwean people, "we will force through sanctions against the individuals that are part of the regime".
Mr Cameron said there was "universal anger" over the "stolen election" results and urged businesses and individuals who had any dealings with the president's regime to examine their consciences and not help to prop it up.
Mr Brown agreed that businesses should "look at their involvement" in the troubled nation.
"I believe the whole world has woken up to the evils that are going on in Zimbabwe," he said.
"What we want to see is an end to the violence and a peaceful transition in Zimbabwe - that's why the efforts of the African Union are so important."
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is working with the England Cricket Board to halt Zimbabwe's cricket tour to England next year, he said.
He urged other countries to help ban Zimbabwe from taking part in cricket's Twenty 20 World Cup being hosted by the UK next year.
"We want to ensure that Zimbabwe does not tour England next year," Mr Brown said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7473243.stm
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's honorary Knighthood is to be withdrawn by the Queen, the BBC has learned.
Mr Mugabe, condemned over violence ahead of a presidential run-off election, was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1994.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband recommended to the Queen that he be stripped of the honour - and the Queen has approved that request.
Gordon Brown has faced calls in the Commons for its withdrawal.
Earlier this month, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked the prime minister: "What message does it send that a man who brought ruin and starvation to his country continues to be honoured by a knighthood from ours?"
Human rights
Mr Brown had said he was "less interested in the symbols than the substance" of the crisis in Zimbabwe but a Foreign Office spokesman said the decision had now been taken to strip Mr Mugabe of his knighthood.
"This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided," he said.
It comes as Mr Brown prepares "intensified sanctions" against individuals in the Mugabe regime including travel and financial restrictions which will be extended to "the criminal cabal" trying to keep Mr Mugabe in power.
The UK government is also working with the England Cricket Board to stop a Zimbabwe tour next year.
Conservative leader David Cameron urged a full visa ban for Mr Mugabe and his officials, during exchanges with Mr Brown at prime minister's questions.
It follows the US announced it would not recognise the outcome of Friday's presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe.
Peaceful transition call
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out due to the violence, but Mr Mugabe says it will go ahead.
Mr Brown told MPs the UK was ready to commit "substantial resources to Zimbabwe once democracy returns".
He said he wanted a peaceful transition of power in Zimbabwe.
"We are preparing intensified sanctions, financial and travel sanctions, against named members of the Mugabe regime," he said.
"We do know the names of the individuals who are surrounding Mugabe at the moment.
"We know the names, therefore, of the criminal cabal that is trying to keep him in power and we will name these individuals and these will be part of the next stage of the sanctions."
'Universal anger'
While he did "not want to do further damage" to the Zimbabwean people, "we will force through sanctions against the individuals that are part of the regime".
Mr Cameron said there was "universal anger" over the "stolen election" results and urged businesses and individuals who had any dealings with the president's regime to examine their consciences and not help to prop it up.
Mr Brown agreed that businesses should "look at their involvement" in the troubled nation.
"I believe the whole world has woken up to the evils that are going on in Zimbabwe," he said.
"What we want to see is an end to the violence and a peaceful transition in Zimbabwe - that's why the efforts of the African Union are so important."
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is working with the England Cricket Board to halt Zimbabwe's cricket tour to England next year, he said.
He urged other countries to help ban Zimbabwe from taking part in cricket's Twenty 20 World Cup being hosted by the UK next year.
"We want to ensure that Zimbabwe does not tour England next year," Mr Brown said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7473243.stm