Mugabe bids to oust McKinnon

By HELEN TUNNAH, Deputy Political Editor

A damaging split threatens the Commonwealth after a late attempt to oust New Zealander Don McKinnon as Secretary-General thought to be backed by Zimbabwe's rogue President Robert Mugabe.

Next week's Commonwealth leaders' summit in Nigeria may now be tainted by Mr Mugabe's bid to spark a rift between black and white nations as he seeks to divide the organisation which suspended Zimbabwe last year after he rigged elections to keep power.

Mr Mugabe, accused of torture and killings of political opponents, now leads a country where half its 14 million are starving.

He was told this week by Nigeria that he would not be invited to the Heads of Government meeting in Abuja because of Zimbabwe's suspension for failing to meet principles of democracy and good governance.

Some African states are unhappy about Zimbabwe's exclusion, and have talked of a boycott. It was unclear last night if Mr McKinnon could expect most of the Caribbean and Asian members to back him.

He has firm Pacific, Australian and British support.

Diplomatic sources in Nigeria reported Mr Mugabe as the driving force behind persuading Sri Lanka to announce yesterday that its former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar would run against Mr McKinnon.

Potentially troubling for Mr McKinnon is the suspicion that South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, an old ally of Mr Mugabe, has also backed the Sri Lankan.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has asked for advice about the strength of the Sri Lankan challenge, and will spend the weekend lobbying for Mr McKinnon if need be.

Mr McKinnon, 64, a former National Party foreign minister and deputy prime minister, wants his first term rolled over for another four years from April.

Leaders from 52 Commonwealth countries - Pakistan is also suspended and will not be there - will decide who gets the job on the first morning of the summit, next Friday.

Talk first emerged of a Mugabe-backed bid to get Mr McKinnon out of the job in October.

Mr McKinnon said he did not know who was behind the challenge.

"I do know that in the time I've been here I haven't been able to maintain total support, 100 per cent of the time, but that's the nature of the job.

"We're a democratic institution and I'll certainly be looking forward to meeting with leaders in Abuja and talking about it."

While the final decision must be agreed consensus-style, an indicative vote will be taken of leaders, and the loser would be expected to step aside.

Helen Clark said she could not say what had motivated such a late challenge.

"It's not usually the way things are done in the Commonwealth. We're strongly supportive of Don. It would be unprecedented for a secretary-general seeking a second term not to get it, and there's no good reason for it."

Additional reporting: agencies