Zimbabwe quits Commonwealth

12.40pm


UPDATED REPORTS - HARARE - Zimbabwe has quit the Commonwealth after the organisation extended the southern African country's suspension.

The Zimbabwe government said in a statement that President Robert Mugabe had told the leaders of Jamaica, Nigeria and South Africa when they phoned him one after another on Sunday that Harare did not accept the Commonwealth's position and was leaving the group.

"Accordingly, Zimbabwe has withdrawn its membership from the Commonwealth with immediate effect," it said.

A divided Commonwealth extended sanctions against Zimbabwe, but opened the way for a possible return to the 54-member group if Harare engages in reconciliation with the opposition.

Talks on Zimbabwe dominated a four-day Commonwealth summit in the Nigerian capital and caused the worst split in the club of mainly former British colonies since South Africa's apartheid in the 1990s.

The Zimbabwe government statement said the three leaders who had called Mugabe to brief him on the Commonwealth's decision had tried to persuade him not to quit, but Mugabe was adamant there was no point for Harare to remain in the group.

"In response, President Mugabe indicated to each of the three leaders that the decision was unacceptable, as the Republic of Zimbabwe would settle for nothing short of its removal from the Commonwealth suspension and agenda," it said.

The statement said Mugabe had told them: "Anything that you agree on Zimbabwe which is short of this position, no matter how sweetly worded, means Zimbabwe is still a subject of the Commonwealth. This is unacceptable. This is it -- it's quits and quits it will be."

Mugabe had also indicated that he would not be talking to any leader about the Commonwealth because Zimbabwe was no longer a member of the group, the statement said.

"On the suggested visit to Zimbabwe by leaders of the CHOGM committee, President Mugabe emphasised that Zimbabwe would receive and welcome them in a brotherly and friendly way but only as leaders of their respective nations, not as representatives of the Commonwealth," it added.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Zimbabwe's resignation was "no surprise".

"There's yet to be a definitive statement from president Mugabe himself, but it comes as no surprise," Miss Clark told NZPA.

"We (the Commonwealth) have made the decision, it really makes no difference."

A spokesman for Australian prime minister John Howard said the withdrawal was ultimately a decision for the Zimbabwean government.

A divided Commonwealth extended sanctions against Zimbabwe today but opened the way for a possible return to the 54-member group if Harare engages in reconciliation with the opposition.

Talks on Zimbabwe dominated the four-day Commonwealth Health of Governments Meeting (Chogm) in the Nigerian capital and caused the worst split in the club of mainly former British colonies since South Africa's apartheid.

- REUTERS and NZPA