VOA标准英语2008年-US Says Zimbabwe's Mugabe Government Not Legiti

The United States said Monday the government of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe cannot be considered legitimate 1 in the absence of a presidential runoff election. In the wake of opposition 2 candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's forced departure from the campaign, the Bush administration is pushing for action in the U.N. Security Council. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
　
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Morgan Tsvangirai, center, speaks to the press, 19 Jun 2008

The State Department is expressing understanding for Mr. Tsvangirai's decision to quit the race, and deep disappointment that the Mugabe government made a free and fair runoff election impossible with its violent campaign against the opposition.

In a written statement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it is abundantly clear that President Mugabe is determined 3 to thwart 4 the will of the Zimbabwean people, and that the United States condemns 5 the violence in the strongest terms.

Rice said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party must work together on behalf of the Zimbabwean people and said the Mugabe government "cannot be considered legitimate" in the absence of a runoff.

The Secretary further said Mr. Mugabe and his government have forsaken 6 the most basic tenet of government, the protection of its people, and must be held accountable by the international community.
　
Tom Casey (file photo)

In a talk with reporters, State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said that Rice's remark about the legitimacy 7 of the Mugabe government is a statement of the obvious, given the situation.

"Can we stop with the legal niceties here? This is a government that has no legitimacy in the eyes of its people, in the eyes of the United States or in the eyes of the international community absent a free and fair election," he said. "That's what it means. And whether there will be policy consequences to that or not depends on the action that this government takes in light of our statements, in light of actions in the Security Council, and in light of the discussions they're having with other regional leaders."

Casey said in addition to measures taken by the international community, the United States could augment 8 sanctions it already has in place against Mr. Mugabe and key associates.

But he ruled out the withdrawal 9 of U.S. Ambassador James McGee from Harare, saying his presence is needed to gauge 10 the situation on the ground and maintain contact with the besieged 11 opposition.

Casey said the United States had no role in Mr. Tsvangirai's decision to pull out of the runoff but is supportive of it under the current conditions, which he said are making Zimbabwe's president an international political pariah 12.

"All I can say is it must be a very dark and scary place where Robert Mugabe is right now politically, because it's abundantly clear by actions of his government that neither he nor any of those supporting him believe that he would win a free in a and fair election, if they are re resorting to this kind of violence as a response," he said.

Casey did not specify 13 what steps the Bush administration wants the world community to take, but that its initial expectation is for a so-called president's statement from the U.N. Security Council condemning 14 the Harare government.

South Africa among others had resisted bringing the issue to the Security Council but Casey said the latest developments have brought a "change in tone" by regional leaders once protective of Mr. Mugabe.