I hope all the other European leaders do the same as well. And if some African rulers stage they own boycott because the despot Mugabe is not invited to atten the EU/Africa summit, so be it. They (those African rulers who call themselves leaders) are all a bunch of thieves, pillagers and corrupt assholes with an insatiable appetite for power. They have no regard for the needs of their people. While millions of Africans on the continent continue to languish in abject poverty, mal-nutrition and disease African rulers and their families and friends continue to live in luxury.

Eric Kaba, Northern Virginia, USA

Finally someone is threatening to do something, as millions of Zimbabweans are slowly starving to death. People forget that under the current EU sanctions, Mugabe legally banned from entering Europe, which is why it was such a shock that he turned up at the Pope's funeral a few years ago. By inviting him to Portugal, the EU is effectively showing that their sanctions are worth very little in real terms. However, because of the past, the European leader's hands are tied as to what they can do when it comes to Zimbabwe (as with any other African/Asian/Middle Eastern country). Mugabe is mentally unstable, but the other African leaders have shown that they have no moral fibre by only offering weak criticism of him, and no action. Mbeki is the worst; to be honest, I don't know how much longer SA can economically support all the Zimbabweans flooding across their borders.

Lisa, London,

Mr Brown would be better off agreeing with Mugabe's attendance and then showing the superiority of his ideas and ability around the conference table.
Boycott's only prolong conflicts and only harm those who are most at risk.
Come on Gordi', lets see the metal of your political & debatorial prowess roar as a lion ought for Britain. Oh, don't forget the sartorial, that is highly and mostly respected in 'bling-bling' land.

Ian, London,

As someone who lived in Africa for 25 years, I find it sad that most Europeans do not know how the African mind works. If Brown stays away, that will be a triumph politically for Mugabe and all those African leaders who support him. According to Mugabe, the British are rank racists, a word often used by scoundrels, and perhaps he has a point because we have left at least two countries in the last thirty years to have their "freedom" to be destroyed economically due to the actions of the terrorists who took over.

What is needed urgently is that Mugabe and those others responsible must be made the subjects of international arrest warrants for genocide. We all know why; 30.000 Matabele tribesmen murdered soon after he came to power in the early 1980s on his direct orders. Not to mention the thousands since. Then see if he turns up as the charges will automatically take away his diplomatic immunity.

To not do this really proves Mugabe's accusation but for a different reason.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Its is a shame indeed that PM is going to take such a stand and actual encourage other EU heads to shun the meeting...maybe he needs to consider the bigger picture...Zimbabwe is not the only nation that will be attending nor will it be the only nation to gain from this summit.
PM's approach is a rather arrogant, with not much intelligence to it.

However there are 2 sides to this....i can not help but wonder why African nations are failing to address this situation...why was the Zimbabwe situation addressed during the SADC meeting in Lusaka Zambia? Thabo Mbeki has not made any progress in reconciling the Mugabe Gov and the opposition and yet non of the heads of state see this an an emergency situation...as much as the PM's decision is rather selfish i guess in many ways it serves the African leaders right for playing iginorant to the happening in Zimbabwe.

Name Withheld, sydney,

Mugabe and his support from some african leaders may attack Mr. Brown as he did to Mr. Blair at the Food Summit in South Africa a few years ago. So Mugabe should stay away - he does not have the Charisma of nelson Mandela . He just wants to take centre stage and not serious about the meeting

Priscilla, Bulawayo-Crawley, Zim-UK

The answer is simple. The UN or EU must at long last issue an arrest warrant for Mugabe for genocide and abuse of human rights, and he must be invited to Portugal where he will be arrested. If he knows that, of course, he will not attend. Problem solved except that Mugabe must be punished to set an example to all leaders that murder is not acceptable. I refer of course to the 25 to 30 000 Matebele tribesmen he ordered murdered soon after coming to power in 1980, and the more recent abuses resulting in the chaos in Zimbabwe which the rest of the world will be expected to pay for: again.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Millions of pounds of British aid is disappearing in the two maws of African corruption and hyperinflation without benefiting the needy and still some of these governments seem to want to set the terms for further conversations. Let's see a little more of the principle that "he who pays the piper ..." and stand up to those countries which refuse to listen to advice which is not "post-colonial" but simply sound. It's time the UK government reinforced the standard and refused to meet with the unreformable Zimbabwean government and any of their cronies.

Michael T, Surrey,

This is just a small step by Gordon Brown. International pressure on the geriatric meglomaniac Mugabe and on the rascist African leaders who support him needs to be quickly intensified. Mugabe and his gangster cronies are a sickening disgrace to Africa and to the international community.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Well done Gordon Brown. Good to see some leadership at last. Mugabe should not be treated like a legitimate leader. It is time for Europe and Souh Africa to follow Gordon Brown's lead and get tough on Mugabe.

M. Marais, Belfast,

I want to believe that Gordon Brown's tough position on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is motivated by the need to send a clear signal to the Mugabe regime that the human rights abuses which that regime is perpetrating are not acceptable and have no place in the modern world. With this in mind, I urge Mr Brown to look again at the matter of Zimbabwean asylum seekers who fled the Mugabe regime and sought refuge in Britain. The majority of them have had their applications for political asylum rejected. For the past seven years, some of them have been living under the shadow of the possibility of being deported back to Zimbabwe where they risk detention, torture and death at the hands of agents of the state.

Ambrose Musiyiwa, Dudley, West Midlands

Does nobody else remember Prince Charles' finest hour . when he quite deliberately cut Idi Amin at a similar converence. That approach was infinitely better than simply refusing to turn up.

Rosemary Roberts, Germany,

How hypocritical of the UK government to now not support Mugabe after DECADES of doing nothing and supporting the South African government which supports Mugabe.
Lets not forget the Uk government also didnt do anything for 30 years while apartheid was in in S.Africa.

luke, perth, australia

What's this - a British PM displaying principles? I thought they left No 10 with Margaret Thatcher.

As for throwing in to turmoil a self-congratulatory EU/African summit, it is no less than what it deserved. The whole affair reeks of politicians preening theselves in front of the World's press whilst ignoring a herd of elephants in the room.

If Africa is ever going to become self-sufficient it needs to rid itself of the despots, murderers and thieves that are currently parading themselves as leaders and politicians.

Edwin Thornber, Bucharest,

I think man doe not do anything for nothing. No one could convince me that Brwon is just acting on emotions. This's however not to say that Mugabe is the only one guilty one.

The best way out, in my opinion, is diplomacy. Both partiesneed to come together supported by partners from both sides. Definitely there'll be a consensus at the end of the day - may be uneasily.

To boycott the summit because of Mugabe is to throw the baby out with the bath water! That' would be an ill wind that would blow no one any good.

Benson, Zurich, Switzerland

At least Gordon McBrown is saying something now. After 10 years of Labour collusion with Mugabe under a Blair government the tide is turning. Mugabe is a disgrace and how any African politician can openly support him is staggering. The monster needs stopping before a huge human tragedy engulfs Zimbabwe.

roger , york,

He can't keep his hands in his pockets, he already has them in our pockets.

Paul, Rochester, UK

Weel done Gordon Brown. Good to see some leadership at last. Mugabe should not be treated like a legitimate leader. It is time for Europe and Souh Africa to follow Gordon Brown's lead and get tough on Mugabe.

M. Marais, Belfast,

Kindergarten !!

Helena Mathys, Hameenlinna, Finland

Interesting how Africa seems to be supporting Mr Mugabe. I do hope Mr Brown remembers this next time he thinks about giving them more British tax money!

John, Salford, England

"Mr Brown could find himself blamed for setting back Europe’s relations with Africa"

... or perhaps African leaders sympathetic to Mr Mugabe will find themselves blamed for setting back Africa,'s relations with Europe.

TDK, Edinburgh, UK

So Mugabe continues to be the most convenient scapegoat!!

Pasipameraziso Chimedzamatore, Matonjeni, Zimbabwe

how long shall the EU and US shun the issues at hand, it would appear to me that there is more at stake than we are led to believe about Mugabe. no one can say he is wrong or right in his face ..maybe the former British PM's did make promises they could not keep hence Mugabe 's fury and the continual cat and mouse games. If you ask me i d say they are all waiting for him to die. seeing his age

edward dzingai, sheffield , uk

If Gordon Brown takes this stance and adheres to it we need to appauld him. For too long the international community has pandered to the sensitivities of the AU nations in general and SADC nations in particular. It's time to isolate Mugabe and his gangster regime from the rest of the civilised world. Leave him to be feted by his fellow Arican leaders whilst Zimbabwe enters it's death spiral. This, of course, says more about Africa than it does about Zimbabwe.

Peter, Singapore,

Thanks Mr Brown. You are the only advocate for the ordinary Zimbabwean. Mugabe is silently exterminating the opposition. Africa only likes one Zimbabwean-Mugabe. They are partnering with him in the genocide.

Job Munake, Toronto, Ontario/ Canada

If leaders stop meeting because of dislikes or disagreements, the west will loose it's grip totally. If Gordon Brown does not want to shake hands, I suggest to him to keep them in his pockets.

robert, abbotsford,

Ok, Mr Brown, now walk the talk. (please!!)

Duncan McGregor, Melbourne,