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Zimbabwe Candidate Charged With Treason--[Excerpt] In an interview with the BBC today, Ari Ben-Menashe, the executive who runs the consulting firm, said he was approached by Mr. Tsvangirai, who wanted Mr. Mugabe "eliminated." In a statement, Mr. Tsvangirai said, "We believe in the democratic electoral process and that a change of government is delivered peacefully through people exercising their democratic rights via the ballot box."

............. Over the weekend, groups of election observers from two southern African groups were stoned by rowdy supporters of Mr. Mugabe.

"We thought we would deploy our people throughout the country by Wednesday, but we have decided to delay," said Duke Lefhoko, leader of the southern African observer mission. "We've got to know if the government is committed to allowing us to do our jobs. We want to ensure the safety of our people." [End Excerpt]

Blair calls behavior of Zimbabwe's leader outrageous [Excerpt] LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair accused President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe on Wednesday of acting like a dictator, and said the world must insure that Mugabe steps down if he loses next month's election.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Blair condemned Mugabe's government for charging key opposition leaders in Zimbabwe with treason, calling the president's behavior "undemocratic, wrong and dictatorial."

Mugabe, the country's only president since Zimbabwe won independence from British rule in 1980, faces one of his most difficult challenges during the presidential elections on March 9 and 10.

If the vote goes against Mugabe, Blair said, "We must be in a position to make sure that the properly, democratically elected government of Zimbabwe is supported." [End Excerpt]