Mugabe: Bush and Blair are War Criminals

Mugabe says Bush, Blair should stand trial

IOL South Africa

Harare - July 07 2003

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said that George Bush and Tony Blair are "liars" and should stand trial for genocide, state television reported on Sunday, just days ahead of a crucial visit to Africa by the US president.

"They have told lies to the world. They have committed genocide, and they are criminals these two, Bush and Blair," Mugabe told thousands of supporters at a rally Saturday in southern Zimbabwe.

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Stepping up anti-Bush sentiment ahead of his visit to the region next week, Mugabe said the US president and the British prime minister should stand trial for invading Iraq.

"They have to stand before the international court to answer for their international crimes," the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) showed Mugabe saying.

'They have committed genocide and they are criminals' Bush is due in South Africa on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a tour of several African countries including Botswana, Uganda, Nigeria and Senegal.

According to an earlier report, Mugabe warned Bush not to tell southern Africa's leaders how to run their countries during his visit.

"If he (Bush) is coming to dictate to us to how we should run our countries, then we will say 'Go back. Go home Yankee," Mugabe was quoted as saying.

"Any dictating to us will never be heeded by any of us in this region," Mugabe added.

Bush wants South African leader Thabo Mbeki to put pressure on the 79-year-old Mugabe and Zimbabwe to hold fresh presidential elections.

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