Mugabe summit presence threatens Commonwealth

The threat of a damaging split within the Commonwealth loomed on Monday after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe insisted he was determined to secure an invitation to a summit of leaders next month.

His remarks followed a flying visit to Harare by the Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been attempting to broker a deal to prevent a rift over whether Zimbabwe, which has been suspended from the Commonwealth council, should be allowed to attend.

When asked at a press conference if Mugabe would be invited to a summit of the 54 leaders of Commonwealth states, Obasanjo said: "I am still consulting."

However, Mugabe, who was standing next to him, stepped in and interjected: "Yes, consultation is always necessary and we look forward to attending."

Mugabe has put Obasanjo into an awkward position, and his stance threatens to split the Commonwealth along racial lines if he is not invited.

If he goes, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is unlikely to attend. When asked if the British prime minister would go to the Commonwealth summit if Mugabe was there, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "This remains a hypothetical question but suffice it to say it would create significant difficulties for the participation of the UK as well as a number of other Commonwealth countries."

Zimbabwe has been suspended from the Commonwealth council since March last year, following the finding by Commonwealth observers that Mugabe's re-election was marked by state violence and evidence of massive vote rigging.

Since then, Mugabe has waged a determined effort to get the suspension lifted and to be invited to the Commonwealth summit in Abuja, Nigeria, from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8.

Mugabe has lobbied other African Commonwealth members with the slogan "There is no Africa without Zimbabwe" and urged a boycott of the summit if he is not invited. Mugabe has argued that the "white Commonwealth," chiefly Britain and Australia, have ostracized Zimbabwe because they object to his seizure of white-owned farms.