"...and further brutalise the image of Zimbabwe," said Augustine Chihuri, the Zimbabwean police commissioner"

Can it be further brutalised?

matthew, london,

Lets help Africa become better, so they can offer all their citizens, across the world, a home.

What ever it takes, it will be worth it.

Peter, London, UK

Let's do a little hypothetical. Suppose that the UN continued making resolutions and speaking out against Mugabe, but there was no observable effect. Then support that Bush ordered US troops to topple Mugabe. Would the Europeans react with outrage and condemn Bush then? Or is Europe all bark only?

Chad Cannon, Dallas, Texas,

the council's statement is far too little and far too too too late. why did SA and China block discussion of the zimbabwe issue all along - not good for business?? shame on you!

Mucha, harare, zimbabwe

Let's face it - only the threat of charges of crimes against humanity, or better still, military intervention, by the so-called international "community" will unseat this contemptible man. How about freezing his (Swiss?) bank account(s) and threatening any bank that holds his assets with closure?

F Redpath, london,

Ist Zim - next S.A
'One Man, One Vote' hey Mbeki? Watching Zanu PF now is like a preview to what will happen when a viable opposition threatens the ANC in future years. I can't hear you Mandela - have you lost your voice????

RG, London,

Quoting the official result of the first round without qualification is a form of collaboration with Mugabe.

Oliver Chettle, Bedford,

Thabo Mbeki stands condemmed and his country humiliated in the eyes of the world for his abandonment of the Zimbabwe people and his support for a phsycotic dictator who has destroyed a once beautiful country. Shame on the SADC and the AU for standing by and watching this travesty happen.

Neil, London, UK

SADC have shown cowardice; faced with genocidal behaviour in one of their own member countries. They should unanimously excommunicate MUGABE and call for new elections under their own & UN supervision with a massive presence of international observers.
If MUGABE refuses, SADC must remove him

john, London,

If it was a sick dog...you would take it out and put it to sleep...The same should happen to Mugabe !!!
Where are all of these gutless African leaders who ignore what is on their own doorstep?
When living in the country in 1970's it was a country to be proud of.

Ivor Dugdale-Jenkins, Southampton, England

Wow. Amazing. Zimbabwe's people are being tortured, murdered, raped, they live in poverty, sickness and famine and now have no challenger to the incumbent power. And they we get this from the UN. A statement. More platitudes from a toothless global quango.

UN = Useless Noise

Ben Robinson, Brighton, UK

The reason for remaining support for Mugabe is that in Africa he is alone in totally rejecting Western aid, a former freedom fighter and a proud man. If global politicians and global businesses showed African nations and people the respect every human being deserves Mugabe would himself be rejected

Jo Josh, Reigate, Surrey

A rigged election - opposition supporters barred from voting - a corrupt dictator in power.
Sorry are we still talking of Zimbabwe or Florida?

GJB, Slough, Berkshire

The UN Security Council must steel its resolve, and prepare for active intervention, if necessary, and at the very least take measures to hold Mugabe and his thugs accountable.

David, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The reason Thambo Mbeki won't criticise Robert Mugabe is because do so would jeopardise their trade relations with the Chinese. China is the new colonial power in Southern Africa - plundering the minerals resources and inducing a lack of human rights.

Nikki Brown, London, UK

More hot air. Moreover, too little, too late from the UN.

It is all over in Zimbabwe, the economy ruined and the people brutalised.

Nic, Johannesburg, S-Africa

Zimbabwe President is becoming a mad man and the whole world has to do something else he would be worst than sadam and Osama bin ladin

Odeyinka Olaolu, Og, Niger

Stop the talking lets get in there and arrest Mugabe and his main 130 henchmen known to UK. After a fair trial then a fair election can take place, but those dreadful bullies have to be physically removed to stop the murder. I hope for once we see a UN with teeth in an African context. Please today.

Jack Dunn, Excenevex, 74140 France