'Good argument' for international force in Zimbabwe: Tutu
LONDON (AFP) — There is "a very good argument" for sending an international force into Zimbabwe if diplomatic pressure fails to sweep away President Robert Mugabe, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Sunday.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate said the African Union could take a lead role in any such action, as he urged the bloc not to recognise Mugabe as Zimbabwe's head of state at its summit in Egypt this week.
"That crisis has to be resolved sooner rather than later and yes, I think that a very good argument can be made for having an international force to restore peace" under UN auspices, he said.
"I can't see why ... they would be chary and be too reluctant to intervene forcefully if need be," he said, responding to a question on BBC television on whether there should be military intervention.
Urging African leaders not to recognise Mugabe's re-election, Tutu said: "If you were to have a unanimous voice saying quite clearly to Mr Mugabe ... you are illegitimate and we will not recognise your administration in any shape or form, I think that that would be a very, very powerful signal and would really be able to strengthen the hand of the international community."
Mugabe, 84, is to be inaugurated Sunday after an run-off election in which he was the only candidate following the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change because of violence against his supporters.
Also speaking on BBC television Sunday, the second most senior Anglican cleric in Britain, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, called for Britain to close its embassy in Harare.
Military intervention should not be ruled out, he added.
