|
Commonwealth Mission Starts Work in Zimbabwe VOA News 24 Feb 2002 05:21 UTC 
A new election monitor mission is expected to begin its work Sunday in Zimbabwe amid ongoing campaign violence.
The Commonwealth observer mission brings together a team of 32 monitors mainly from former British colonies.
An observer mission from the European Union quit last week saying it was being prevented from doing its job.
Both the European Union and the United States slapped travel restrictions on President Robert Mugabe and top officials last week to protest a lack of law and order during the present election campaign. Supporters of Mr. Mugabe have dismissed the sanctions as an alleged ploy to favor the opposition.
Mr. Mugabe and his opponent in next month's presidential election, Morgan Tsvangirai, both have scheduled campaign stops Sunday, Mr. Mugabe in Lower Gweru in central Zimbabwe and Mr. Tsvangirai in Kwekwe, just 50 kilometers away.
Mobs of government supporters have disrupted several opposition rallies in recent days.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters.
|