Sanctions against Mugabe will only cripple the counrty and the people while Mugabe is left unscathed. What needs to be done is obvious to a nation yet our Prime Minister remains oblivious to it. Zimbabwe needs our help not hindering. Send forces in to help

Danielle Hay, Cobham, Kent

Terry W Africa cannot be painted with one brush. It has nothing to do with tribalism but corruption and murder. The West says it will help any nation which wants to be democratic. We have a nation CRYING for democracy, a little support will go a long way [not military support].

Shelley, Glasgow,

Even if the SA government did decide to send in the SA Army it could be a fiasco. It is overstaffed with inept politcal appointees and riddled with AIDS. It is nothing like the fearsomely efficient machine PW Botha could employ 20 years ago.

David, Marietta, USA

Robust intervention!

No resources - No will.

No consensus could be reached at the UN - China and Russia would block it - shock

No neighbouring African country would allow passage.

The "Stop the War" coalition would bleat about it.

Stiff words and strong language only.

Dave St Peters, london,

If only there was oil in Zimbabwe.

jon, London,

Desmond Tutu has been lionized by one and all. If he is such a powerful moral force who carries the world's admiration, whey doesn't he go over to Zimbabwe and get all this stopped and sort it out?

Where is Desmond when you need him?

Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA

George, London -- The US is condemned by many for Iraq. It is not going into Zimbabwe.

Post-colonial subSaharan Africa's history is kleptocracy, mismanagement, and tribalism. It is a mess that others can't sort out. Leave the Africans to their own devices. It is what they say they want.

Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA

Surely in this day and age we can freeze bank accounts.

David, Carlisle, UK

Keep out of Africa until we have a formal admission from all African statesmen that they have done a worse job than the "imperialist agressors" in all except one country. Africa must sort itself out, we are now too poor to afford to be involved with such a huge black hole.

David Cage, Highworth, UK

Negociated settlement -not happening see the comments of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on that who had tried :

"I can say that this objective has been almost completely snuffed out since I have learned that soldiers went after Morgan Tsvangirai at his residence on Sunday,"

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

Arm the MDC.At least it would then be a fair fight.

Andy, Bristol, UK

"Only one nation can stop this, and don't they just love telling us"

South Africa has the gift to turn out the lights on the Mugabe regime any time they like, not the US. The fact that they don't is both mysterious and bodes ill for their own future, should one day a MDC seek to replace the ANC.

James Lynch, London, UK

Mugabe needs to be removed from power with extreme prejudice

Bruce Northwood, Silver Spring, USA

Jesse seems to have forgotten that, for good or ill, British armed forces took part in the military intervention in Iraq alongside US forces - twice!

Andrew, Bristol, England

Of the various possible outcomes I imagine that Zimbabwe as a Chinese farm is a lot better that a prolonged period of palliative intervention by the West which would not deal with the fundamental corruption and incompetence. It is an African problem: leave it to Africa.

Geoff, Sydney / London,

Option A -SA &Neighbours surround Zim with troops/tanks.

Cut off everything and issue 24 hour warning to leave or else. Send Mugabe a helicopter giving him an escape. Make it clear he is going one way or another ( Tanks kind of send that message)

Option B keep doing the same thing and hope

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

"I thought the Brits didn't like militaristic intervention??? ..... Violence can be used for good,especially when it removes nasty dictators who have no place on earth.."

And replaces them with......er....nothing.

Iain, London, UK

Mr Aaronovitch, Srebrenica fell mostly because the US and France neglected to lend (air)support which was guaranteed upon the deployment of Dutch troops who were never meant to guard the section on their own. Please don't speak lightly of the events, we most certainly don't. It's a national trauma.

Erik, the Hague, Netherlands

David,
Make sure that the U.N. approves the intervention. Otherwise, those in charge of the invasion will clearly be war criminals.

arnoldo, Coventry,

On the one hand I applaud the efforts of the opposition to realise change through the ballot box. On the other hand when does passavism become procrastination or even cowardice? How much violence will be tolerated before the people stand up for themselves? And if they won't why should we?

Noah, knutsford, UK

Do we really think that if we leave it alone for long enough the African leaders will step in?

Only one nation can stop this, and don't they just love telling us. But it's true. But, in an election year, will the world's only superpower practice what they preach? Freedom for everyone, everywhere?

George, London,

Of course there should be intervention but on a voluntary basis only. Like the International Brigades in Spain maybe the bleeding heart intellectuals can form their own battalions, invade Zimbabwe and show Mugabe that the pen is mightier than the sword. Got to be a great book in there chaps....

Mark, Liverpool, England

Intervention? Time to get your tin hat on, David.
How willing you people are to spend the blood of others.

J.pickin, northampton, uk

Have we not learn't by our mistakes of interfering with the politics of other countries. Whilst Mugabe is the evil figurehead when he goes the military will take over. However bad the situation is,it can only be fixed in Africa, by Africans. Mugabe loves this publicty, shut up! let them fix it

bill luke, st helens, UK

The case for intervention is clear, compelling and necessary to stop the tragedy.

"Let Africa resolve this" is not a viable option anymore. The someone who must do something is the UN.

David, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Does anybody REALLY think that a military intervention will bring peace and stability?

On what evidence can you support this? When in history has peace, real peace, emerged through force?

Redemptive violence is a myth, a dangerous one at that. We can't defeat hell by becoming demons.

Ed Freshwater, Aberdeen, Scotland

Ireland votes "no" so the EU says "vote again until you get it right", and backs its suggestion with threats and smears. This is a Good Thing.

Zimbabwe votes "no" so Mugabe says "vote again until you get it right" and backs his suggestion with threats and smears. This is a Bad Thing.

Wossgoinon?

Alan Calverd, bishops stortford, herts, UK

Why is everyone expecting Mandella to wave a magic wand and fix the situation, or maybe he'll go charging in Rambo-style with a sack full of grenades and a mini-gun slung over his shoulder? He's a very old man with no actual power.

Dave, Blackburn,

Tony of Bristol, 43% is overly inflated, lets not forget the thousands of 'ghost voters' on isolated plots of land that cast their ballots but were never present on voting day or the fact that the civil servants, army and police all have their numbers on their ballot slips - popular support or fear?

Simon, London,

How strange the world is, who would have thought twelve months ago President Bush's policy of direct intervention in foreign countries to unseat distasteful political leaders, would become a viable course of action talked about in the Western press?

Ricardo, Edinburgh,

It has been pretty obvious from the start.
If he stepped down he would:
a)Be prosecuted for his crimes or
b)He would be murdered.

He will never give up his power and ill gotten gains until he is forced to step down, preferably by his neighbours.

john, preston, uk

Without a true international rule of law, with a true independent international judiciary capable of ordering the use of force - as much force as is necessary to achieve the enforcement of the rule of that law - this sort of tyranny, with its endless suffering, will continue around the world forever

James E. Petts, Burnham, England

43% of the people in zimbabwe voted for him.
Tony Burkson, bristol, UK

You have a choice. Vote for the opposition, or vote for the dictator. The dictator happens to be holding a gun to your head and a machete at your child's throat. Who do you vote for?

Mike, London, England

For once, let's just keep our nose out. Let the Africans find a solution. Perhaps Mandela and his pals will wake up and be shamed into action.

vic, London, England.

The unsayable word, if you are of the left/liberal persuasion, is "recolonise". The sole remaining option, all touchyfeelytalkyliberal options having, predictably, failed.

Andrew Fanner, Cowplain, UK

Finally, a good editorial calling for armed intervention to bring Mugabe and his fellow thugs to justice. Frankly, the idea that Mugabe will bend to strongly-worded letters from the international community is ludricrous; the man is an 84-year old dictator who thinks Britain is out to get him.

Brett, Salt Lake City, USA

I believe we as Zimbabweans are dealing with tyrans worse than they look. Its 99% (Zim army included) of us Zimbabweans who could go upfront to free ourselves from this issue. All we require is a 'little' help.

Al, Harare, Zimbabwe

Unfortunately, there isn't a single 'leader' in the world today that would do a better job. They all lie, have a low opinion of 'the people', hate democracy, serve elites and the rich, take what they can from the public coffers, and consider themselves above the law. Zimbabwe is our future.

Miss Dee, Tayside, UK

"The idea that Mugabe will cave in to sanctions or diplomatic pressure is absurd" Yep, that's right. But military intervention just isn't viable. You can deride people who say that by calling them "hand wringers", but it doesn't change the fact that we can only do what we can do. Get over it.

Richard, London,

"Why don't we just offer the whites asylum ..". You must be joking! We've expelled those who've come here whilst retaining IslamoFascists & importing any one else. PC rules
What is needed is an international arrest warrant enforceable everywhere for Mugabe & named thugs. We should bottle them up.

M.Lester, London, UK

We should send a few cruise missiles to a few addresses, he is bound to be at one of them! That might get his attention. The bombing of Gadafi worked.

Baz, Liverpool, England

The oppositon failed to convince more than 50% of zims to vote for them. Mugabe is not as hated and despised as the BBC would like you to believe.43% of the people in zimbabwe voted for him.Any military dictator needs some support to be able to continue his despotic reign.Let Africa resolve this.

Tony Burkson, bristol, UK

I) offer the ruling junta (Mugabe is just a puppet of the Air Marshall and pals) a deal. Sanctuary with all your wealth in an African State or 2) we will kill you and your brothers
cousins supporters. There should be no war just the targetted murder of genocidal tyrants by not "us "this time.

David, Carlisle, UK

Unfortunately, all that will happen is more tsk-tsking and wringing of hands. Everyone says that, "Somebody should do something." However, no one is willing to take action because there would be a cost, and most nations are simply not willing to pay the price for their involvement.

World skeptic, Montana, USA

I blame South Africa and their incompetent 'leaders' for the whole mess over many years, all in cahoots together no doubt use the same Swiss banks. Military intervention? -don't be ridiculous. The SA regime is only a few years behind the Mugabe regime...watch this space.
Africa IS a basket case.

Robert Swift, Chelmsford, Essex.,

How many SA soldiers? Sorry they are a sorry lot themselves now. In the past it would only need 32 battallion to sort the whole country out. Now it would be chaotic.

Now the Zimbabwens must suffer like so many other Africans have due to the despotic leaderships Africa seems to throw up

Richard, London,

Only the Yanks and the UK could do it and they won't because of all the bitching about Iraq. So the "rest-of-the-world" are on their own - result? - nothing will happen except the sound of wringing hands.

Al, weybridge, UQ

The South African amy aint what it used to be. Poor discipline aged troops politically appointed leaders. Whereas the Zim army seems is large, lean and mean . Are we sure who would win?

GM Thomson, Sherborne,

Thank you to everyone who bothered to beat the drum on behalf of oppressed Zimbabweans. Keep right on. Louder, please! It 's not over yet.

P. Shepherd, Vevey, Switzerland

Mugabe should have been arrested for war crimes when he lorded it around Italy last month. Once again our spineless response to his despotism renders us virtually complicit. How does this compare with Iraq; our troops really WOULD have been greeted with dancing in the streets had they deposed Mugabe

Dale, Australia,

Bring on President Kagame of Rwanda. He ridicules the UN for its inefficiency (he should know!) the French for their complicity and the Africans for their hypocracy. The rest of the world talks: he's got troops in Darfur. I hope the new governemnt in Zim will also help Burma and Sudan.

alex stevenson, harare, zimabbwe

What many would call corruption ie. financial abuse like for example, the dipping into the country's coffers to enrich themselves beyond their wildest dreams is regarded by kleptocrats as no more than the prerogative of power.
So "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia

The powers of the world did their level best to rid Rhodesia of their legitimate government, now they wont do a thing to oust Mugabe. The same thing can be said about South Africa. The world opposed the so called Apartheid Government instead of using dialog for change. Look at SA now, a wreck.

Erica Elsted, Sydney, Australia

Mugabe likes the trappings of wealth and taking overseas trips. He reportedly came to Singapore recently for cancer treatment, and his wife likes shopping there. Can someone issue an international arrest warrant and stop him taking so many overseas vacations?

Peter, Singapore,

I don't know why we bother. Nothing will ever change for these people. Getting involved in a military venture is pointless. The next administration would be just as incompetant, just as useless.
From the land that gave you Somalia, Congo, Angola et al - bloody hopless.

Steve Melville, Sydney, Australia

Of course the world community won't do it.

Most Europeans would rather stay on the sidelines saying it can't be done,or it is too difficult,or that it isn't for us to say what is or isn't proper behavior.

Drew in KC, Kansas City,

There is no non-military solution to the Zimbabwe disaster. Even Mugabe's death will not remove the kleptocracy.

Faustino, Brisbane, Australia

Mugabe is the problem of the people of Zimbabwe - not us. The idea that we can run round the world deposing leaders and governments we don't like might sound good when couched in humanitarian terms but is a recipe for massive abuse. And it's even more attractive if they have oil or mineral wealth.

Dirk Bruere, Bedford, England

The South Africans are closest. The minute they start trundling their army north, it's over. But if they won't play, nobody else can.

J Lewis, Alexandria, US

It is time for a joint force to take him out, and his cronies with him. It would be a humanitarian mission, one that needs to be done for the sake of all the suffering people there. Later on, the war crimes they have committed should be investigated and prosecuted. Will the world community do it?

Rick Friedl, Edwards, USA/California

Mugabe must be arrested and put on trial for his crimes against humanity. If his thugs resist, violence against them and him is warranted. He's a mass murderer who has destroyed the Southern African continent.

Brien Comerford, Glenview, United States

Ian Smith was absolutely correct when he said that there would never be majority rule in Rhodesia.

Liam, Fernie, Canada

I thought the Brits didn't like militaristic intervention??? I simply remember them making a stink about the US doing the same thing in Iraq. The world isn' t as fine and dandy as you might think. Violence can be used for good,especially when it removes nasty dictators who have no place on earth

Jesse, I Love America, USA

Why don't we just offer the whites asylum (most are descendants of UK citizens anyway) and just leave Africa and its citizens to their own devices.

Phil, Luton,

Emotionally, I feel as you do and would certainly have no problem in sending in troops, but then again... Africa is a total mess because of Africans themselves and after Iraq, there is just one lesson, democracy cannot be given or imposed. Remove one lot to give a different bunch of thieves ?

John Haynes, Burnham on Sea, UK

'How many South African or British soldiers would it take to unseat the junta and disperse the Zanu (PF) “veterans” . . ?'

Not many. We could probably cluster bomb our way through their formations in a couple of days.

Then would come the insurgency.

Dave, Liverpool, UK

Mugabe will do whatever he has been doing for years, ignoring the outside world. Mugabe's "World View" is a narrow self created one along with his Zanuf-Pf cronies. They will bring Zimbabwe to the same state of 'Beggar Thy Neighbour' as Hitler & the nazis did in Germany. No Hope, Just Hell!

B Clark, Chelmsford, England