It seems that noone has been able to let Mugabe explain why people are running away (even the loyal ruling party supporters),if it is true that his rule is humane.I take my hat off to the true child of God the Bishop of York .What a display of humanity,he knows how it feels to live life under a tyranny.

Cie , birmingham, UK

Cynthia from Harare - how do you feel about the millions of starving countymen/women who are forced to suffer, while the wife of your 'principled man' is cavorting round Paris throwing her money about on Gucci sunglasses and Manolo Blahniks?

Get real.

Luke, London,

Mugabe will go back to Zimbabwe to claim victory. Take a look tomorrow at the Zimbabwe government's mouthpiece paper http:///www.herald.co.zw. It will say Gordon Brown stayed away from the summit in fear of the heroic cadre His Excellency President R. G. Mugabe, the Invincible. After a similar summit in Rome when Tony Blair avoided sitting next to Mugabe, it was claimed in the Zimbabwean press that the cadre Mugabe had sent Blair scuttling away in fear.

Mugabe doesn't care that life expectancy in Zimbabwe is 34, or that the majority are now on the verge of starvation. Even managing directors of large companies are taking time off work to search for basic food on the black market. As long as Mugabe has food in State House and a well-fed army to protect him and his family life is good. Such is African politics. Africans don't understand diplomatic niceties [I am a Zimbabwean myself]. Just let a cruise missle astray onto State House from the Indian Ocean. They might start getting it...

Chuck, London, UK

How do these European leaders manage to look at themselves in the morning after condemning Mugabe for "Human Rights" abuses in Zimbabwe when the actual agenda of the conference is a cavalier attempt at raping African resources at ridiculously low prices in the name of "trade"! How can Europeans be so consistently mischievious?

Gilbert, Swindon, UK

We give credit to the Romans and the Normans for what they gave us...but then this is,nt Africa.

Hugh E Torrance , London, England

Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, New Zealand,

Even if what you say is true, how does that particular scandal compare to the crime of starving to death millions of your own people?

Besides which New Zealand's treatment of it's indigenous population has hardly been exemplary, so get off your soapbox.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

There is no need for us Africans to be treated like we cant think for ourselves.

Cynthia, Harare

You've basically just proved your own statement. LOL

Vusi Pikoli, Polokwane, South Africa

Africa will never find away forward for their peoples. Its simply a bunch of warring tribes that seem intent on abusing everyboday and filling their own pockets.
In Africa you have a region with tremendous opportunity and natural wealth, just look at the oil and minerals, as well as the tourism traffic to the East, West, South and North. But, unlike the Arabs in the GCC. oil and mineral wealth is not used for the betterment for the whole population, just for the betterment of a few. This tells the whole story of Africa, simplistic corruption.
Africa, should not and does not desire the billion that the UK and other EU countries regularly donate until Africa itself sorts itself out.
Oh and don't expect anything worthwhile to come out of Mbeki's involvement in Zim, there's way too much similarity.
Africa has no way forward while the destinies of the people are decided by those with a single vision..make themselves rich!

baldev , frankfurt, germany

I find it oh so ironic that Mugabe is being lambasted over human rights violation yet Europe openly trade with China. It's amazing that the Australian human rights record relating to their treatment of the aboriginees was never mentioned when Australia hosted the Olympics, but when China wins the nod, the human rights issues raises its head. How ironic that the people criticising Mugabe were silent during the over 40yrs of apartheid rule in Suth Africa. Where were Britain and Denmark and Germany when millions of Black South Africans were suffereing? It's appears that it's ok for the whites to abuse Black Africans but when a Black man asserts power it's wrong. Mugabe is doing what is right and that is to reclaim what is rightfully black Zimbabwean land from white colonisers. And South Africa will never join in on this attack on Mugabe because the issue of land ownership is a big deal there and South Africa will implode like Zimbabwe.

Kema, London,

Zimbabweans will one day wake up from this nightmare and find that the country has been recolonised again, by the Chinese. If Africa wants the Chinese then so be it, China will recolonise the continent in such away that it will make previous colonialisation appear utopian. China cares not for the welfare of Africans, it could'nt care less if the population died tomorrow, they invest in such away that they are completely self sufficient, not reliant in any way on the local population.
What a wretched continent it continues to be, badly governed, worse than Britain, riven by conflict and disease, beset by corruption and trapped in poverty.
Yet, in the face of all this the steadfastness and resistance of its people is unmatched. Africa does'nt know rock bottom and only when it takes control of its own destiny will the fortunes of its people change for the good. Britain is useless in Africa, it continues to practice and preach the art of diplomacy when all around knowone gives a damn

Rob Hicks, Johannesburg, South Africa

Interesting - I hadn't realised that you had to be of African orgin to be permitted to criticise an African politician..... Obviously it is not acceptable to point out mistakes of African rulers, but quite acceptable having to pay for them later on.

As for PM Brown... well good for him that other European leaders had the moral backbone to publicly critique Mr Mugabe at the summit, instead of staying at home and sending a lowly aide-de camps in one's place.

walden, hamburg,

Did the Europeans explain their own notorious human rights violations, like their criminal participation in the CIA "extraordinary rendition" kidnapping/torture racket? Did they explain the impunity the European accessories to those crimes enjoy despite the EU states' alleged respect for the law?

Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, New Zealand

The author of this report has just used 600 plus words to state;

"Europe did nothing,"

Mugabe wasn't even in the room when Baroness Amos told everyone- in thousands of words- that Zimbabwean's have a low life expectancy? Er, yes and...?

The Africans and Chinese must have laughed themselves to sleep last night.

Jez W, Leeds,

This can only be changed when the other African countries grow up and take responsibility for Africa and stop blaming the colonial era for all their problems. It is up to the OAU to make it clear to Mugabe that he is NOT supported by the rest of the members. It seems that it is OK to criticise white leaders but try criticising a black leader and you are accused of racism. Where are you now Bono & Geldorf - you seem to be very quiet on Zimbabwe?

George, Glasgow, UK

Can,t beleive a dictator like Robert Mugabe stay in life he must follow the way of Sadam hussein we talking about president means responsable of all the Zim people who they have no food no electricite no right to say anything and pay 3 million for 2 liters of petrole need a track of money to buy a bread how you can come in Europe and argu !!!!!

M Z, Zouerate, Mauritania

Europe has to know Africa is now no longer to be dictated to. The lies of the British will be exposed. Mugabe is not an evil dictator, he is principled man who is doing the right thing. What has irked the West is that what Mugabe has done is only the beginning, and other African countries, including South Africa will follow suit. There is no need for us Africans to be treated like we cant think for ourselves. Injustice was started by Europe, and when a black man tries to right wrongs he is evil! Where were 'human rights' when our land and resources were being stolen from us. Africa is the rising giant! Awake Africa and take your place. Africans must not let Mugabe fight this battle alone. I commend all African leaders fro statnding by Mugabe.

This is a just fight and surely God knows an injustice when He sees one.
Africa will never be colonised again, by any means.

cynthia, Harare, Zimbabwe

The fact that conditions in Zimbabwe continue to get worse highlights the ineffectiveness of the SADC and the African Union to act in a humanitarian way. President Mbeki of RSA and other African leaders continue to watch Mugabe and his cohorts destroy what was the African bread basket. It is these African leaders that should be standing up and defending their hungry brothers in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe needs to be removed and only then can that country once again bloom and provide for it's people.

Peter , Lyon, France

It seems to me that what the UK wants is for the people of Zimbabwe to rise up and forcibly remove Mr. Mugabe from power and put him into exile/retirement. Whatever popular governing body replaced him would no doubt recieve fast and generous aid packages from the UK and a lifting of sanctions provided they supported basic human rights and good governance. Failing that, The UK is probably waiting for Mr. Mugabe to pass away from old age (much as the U.S. is waiting for Castro to pass away) with the hope that whatever happens afterward will be an improvement.

Brent, Toronto, Canada

the situation has got to a stage where the country is not able to help itself, starvation reigns supreme, and mr mugabe turns a blind eye to his own people...we are an african nation in need of help, but nobody is willing, all they do is impose sanctions upon sanctions and it is the lay man who sufferes its the person on the street who is affected, the leaders turn a blind eye...the world as a whole has turned a blind eye

legend, kuala lumpur,

some things got to happen so many people are starving

graham, harare, zimbabwe