Free Republic

They are two diminutive men, short in stature but long on anti-Western rhetoric. Yesterday two of America's staunchest opponents embraced as Robert Mugabe welcomed Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Zimbabwe. In a ceremony full of pomp and circumstance at Harare's airport, the two leaders met, united by their politics.

A New Jersey congressman says he will demand a government inquiry into Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire poised to buy the New Jersey Nets, for his extensive business dealings in Zimbabwe -- a bombshell that could blow up the $200 million team deal and threaten the future of Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards, The Post has learned. Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, wants to know if companies controlled by Prokhorov in Zimbabwe violate federal rules that forbid American citizens and companies, and subsidiaries set up in the United States, from doing business with...

African leaders and the UN must act to ensure democracy triumphs in Zimbabwe, says a key opposition figure. MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said Zimbabwe was now "in a war situation" following disputed polls on 29 March. He said 10 people had been killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced in post-election violence. After a request from the ruling party, electoral officials are conducting a partial recount of the parliamentary vote, won by the MDC. Votes are being recounted in 23 constituencies, a process election officials say could take more than three days to complete. Three weeks after polls were held,...

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will personally lead mass protests aimed at expressing anger and disgust at President Robert Mugabe's marauding tyranny. The MDC leader said he was ready to confront the "Mugabe dictatorship" head on adding that no form of official intimidation would make the party deviate from its plans. Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi last week warned the opposition party against rolling out the mass protests saying anyone who would "like to cause unrest and civil commotion in this country under the guise of freedom of expression and democracy will be dealt with severely".But Tsvangirai said he...

Cabinet minister Peter Hain has told President Robert Mugabe to stay away from a summit of African leaders in Paris. Mr Hain, minister for the EU, told the BBC's Newsnight programme the Zimbabwean president "was not welcome" in Europe. European Union foreign ministers will decide next week whether to renew sanctions against Zimbabwe, including a travel ban for the country's rulers. If they do not, Mr Mugabe would be able - if invited by France - to attend the summit on February 19. Mr Hain's comments suggest the UK government will oppose such a relaxation of restrictions. To be personally...

South Africa has rejected calls from pressure groups to send troops to Zimbabwe to protect white farmers. Aziz Pahad, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, has told a media briefing that Zimbabwe is not the tenth province of South Africa, and as such, it has its own laws to deal with the controversial issue of land redistribution. Pahad's briefing comes at a time when more pressure is being exerted to South Africa to adopt a tougher stance against President Robert Mugabe's government. Pahad says South Africa and the Southern African Development Community have done everything in their power to bring stability to...