Caritas Cardinal Calls for Arms Embargo on Zimbabwe

(26 Apr 08 - RV) The president of the international Catholic charity Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, has urged the UN Security Council to impose an immediate arms embargo on Zimbabwe.


In a statement issued this week Caritas Internationalis, said Church leaders in that country report that without international intervention Zimbabweans face genocide.


Caritas said that reports from within Zimbabwe of increased violence are deeply troubling and that the international community must prevent further arms reaching the country. A Chinese arms shipment was refused permission to unload in South Africa. Caritas urged all African countries to not allow the arms to be shipped through their territory.


President Robert Mugabe's party has failed to secure control of Zimbabwe's parliament in a partial recount of the March 29 election, results showed today, handing the ruling party its first defeat in 28 years.


But President Robert Mugabe has refused to yield power ordering a police crackdown on members of the opposition, which accuses him of stealing the poll.


Yesterday, Armed riot police raided the opposition MDC's headquarters and detained
scores of people, including supporters who had sought refuge after fleeing violence in various parts of the country .


The government denies it is waging a violent campaign.


Coordinator for the Zimbabwe Vigil is Rose Benton says it’s time the international community abandon its soft diplomacy approach.