Mugabe should be invited to Portugal and then publicly arrested for genocide and acts against humanity, tried in the World Court and punished. (30.000 Matabele murdered in the 1980s plus many more crimes.) People forget that there are a total of about 70 Zimbabweans who are not allowed to travel to the EU, all members of ZANU-PF, the Mugabe terrorist gang. They must also be chased own for the rest of their lives, until brought to justice, either in Zimbabwe or elsewhere by a competent Court, not in Africa though where they will not be punished.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

I personally believe the situation in Zimbabwe is bad but it has been blown out of proportion by the western media. I know Mugabe and Zimbabwe's woes begun when he started repossessing white farmers' land. Does this insinuate that it was the white farmers holding the Zim economy in position and when they left it had to collapse? Is this a case of whoever is not for the west is not for the best?

Mugabe should be given an opportunity to explain his side of the story at the Lisbon summit. After all we have seen presidents who invade a sovereign country without the mandate of the UN being allowed to attend international gatherings. Is Mugabe worse than this?

Richard, London, UK

I find it incredable that the British government went into Seara Leone to ' save it from genoside' but refuse to move into Zimbabwe where the genoside is far worse.

Please, please Mr Brown, consider intervening in Zimbabwe and save the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans, and save the complete degeneration of a country. Because if Zimbabwe collapsed, ALL of southern Africa will suffer and thus make the region even poorer.
The tragedy of this is that, because of the corruption of most of the African leaders, causing the continuing poverty of this continent, there is an increasing 'hemoraging' of people to other parts of the world. This causes, not only difficulties to the 'receiving' countries but to Africa, as the majority of the people that are leaving are 'professionals', that is teachers, doctors, nurses etc.

John E. Perry, Ipswich, England

The BRITISH Government put the puppet in place , they should remove him ....... they have let a whole Nation down. He (Magabi) stole the first election, 25 years ago and turned the jewel of Africa into a caotic,intimidating place to live.I will watch you , watch Zimbabwean's starve to Death by the very person the British put in charge to look after HIS PEOPLE

Kevin Morgan, letchworth garden city, England

Sounds like a victory for Mugabe (and insanity). If I was him I'd be attending just to prevent the British PM from participating.

Ellen Morris, Leeds,

British Hypocisy at its height

emy B, Aro-ndizogu , Imo state -Nigeria

The dimwit, followed by other halfwits who wrote the posts preceding mine seem not to get the reasons why Britain want to boycot the meeting in Portugal. They are acting in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, who are suffering because of Mugabe's disastrous policies. It is utter stupidity & sheer ignorance to assert that Britain are interested in Zimbabwe. Whats there for them to gain from controlling that country? Mugabe is a problem & has successfully poisoned the minds of other African, turning attention from his failed economic policies, to the mantra of blaming the British, who are not even involved in running the country. For the good of Zimbabwe & Africa as a whole, Mugabe must step down now or the country will be reduced to failed state beyond recovery.

Baba Tonde, Tipton, UK

It takes no courage at all to stay away. The courageous thing would be to go there, refuse to shake Robert Mugabe's hand, be photographed with his back towards him and to make speeches against that tyrannical and cruel despot.

Courage is usually a hallmark of leadership. Mr Brown is a leader of one of the world's most powerful and influential nations. Let him show leadership befitting the office he holds.

Duncald, Melbourne, Australia

Good, anyone with any self respect should have nothing to do with Mugabe. It is deplorable that the government here for so long supported him.

roger, y,

At the end of the day all African Leaders will attend the meeting otherwise no meeting will take place. As long as Zimbabwe is part of Africa they should be treated equally. US and UK is committing human rights abuse in the Middle-East but all eyes are on Zimbabwe. It`s all because of White supremy, they think they own Zimbawe. Never again

Mwana WeAfrica, London, UK

what Africa leaders are going to get from that summit anyway?? Gordon Brown you can attend or not< that's up to you. British leaders need to understand that their campaign against Robert Mugabe does not get down well with african people in general.and mugabe is the only hero in this continent to stand against colonial injstices.

ALI, west haven, usa

Surely the world is still far from a peaceful and unified co-existance of its inhabitants.
Why would the notion of sharing the same room albeit being just a summit event ,with Robert Mugabe seems so an abomination.I tell you its dialogues that have seen the world become so changed from its state centuries back. In how I percieve, it its time the global politics and its heavy-weights,awaken to the signs of time.Now is no time for shunning each other as it brings nothing but peril one way or the other ,in so doing promoting disorder that have seen the world so plagued by human oriented strife.

I dont favour the ringing of this advantaged British man's feelings for Mugabe ,it maybe justified in its cause ,yet we just cant live like this forever .Lets unite for peace and this is only seen where there is dialogue between people ,regardless of differing opinions ,dialogues still enlighten and set matters straight.Let him be there and hear his opinion then we be flexible to map the road.

Sinni Dani Kagore, shamva, Mt Darwin/ Zimbabwe

Yes Mr Prime Minister.Let any african leader who does not agree with you stay in Africa!!!!.Let them have meetings with Mugabe in whatever is left in Harare.

GTK, Elefsis, Greece.

lGeorge, Elefsis, Greece

Mbeki has done nothing but be soft on Mugabe since all this began. Mbeki's government has denied every negative factor on South Africa, from HIV/AIDS to the horror of the current rise in violent crime, and now the 5,000+ who come into SA from Zim every night. There are already 2million illigal Zims in SA (and my heart goes out to them) but they receive nothing from the state and survive how best they can. We are all talking of leaving SA, so if you want to come to the World Cup better bring an armed guard with you. If Zuma gets in then SA will be in even bigger trouble....

Hogwash, Cape Town, SA

Hopefully Mr Brown will soon let Mbeki know what he thinks of his obvious complicity in mugabe's tyranny.

Grant, Johannesburg,

Well done Mr. Prime Minister! I just hope that you will have a same resolution in other issues!

Zoran, Limerick, Ireland

It will be interesting to see who will blink first!

Should Mugabe be allowed to attend this meet,rest assured he will milk it for all it's worth and should the new Brit Prime minister boycott the summit,it will be headline news!..Phew.I cant wait for the official outcome.

Jack, London, UK

Pity Zim has no oil or the West would have been in there a long time ago. At least the Zimbabwians can vote, so the West is happy. Pity you can't eat a vote or use it to feed or clothe your children. God save Zimbabwe.

GK, Calgary, Canada

Howabout a military invasion of Zimbabwe??? I mean it could get out of control and a humanitarian disaster is imminent.

So South Africa,Botswana,UK,EU must muster up a Military force and invade Zimbabwe and remove Mugabe from power and outlaw Zanu PF, yes war is not pleasant but this is a humanitarian crisis at hand not Saddams oil.or alternativley train zimbabwean refugees and equip them with weapons to overthrow this monster.

A. Fisher, Johannesburg, South Africa

Who will save Zimbabweans?

Asher Tarivona Mutsengi , CALGARY, CANADA

In 2003 Zimbabwe was in a right state. It's now 2007 and things have never been this bad. How can the African Union still continue to support Zimbabwe and Mugabe?
Tentative congratulations must go to Gordon Brown who appears to be showing greater moral standing than his predecessor.

David, Norwich, England

When I heard that John Howard of Australia had taken the decision to stand up to Mugabe in the sports arena I was so pleased. I was filled with admiration for a strong stand against evil, of his refusal to legitimise a dictatorship that is killing and disenfranchising millions. For so long now we have had to endure the wishy washy politics of British politicians who have little or no integrity and whose characters are morally questionable and leave us with fear for our future now we have a man who seems to have a backbone, a man who it seems is prepared to say what millions of people are hoping to hear - the word NO to a man like Mugabe. Well done Mr Brown, well done! Please remain strong! Many lives have been lost, are being lost and will be lost. Please help us not to have to say yet again 'never again' (post Hitler, post Bosnia, post Ruwanda), I fear is too late anyway as a genocide has already been perpetrated (silently) but for those who remain, better late than never!

Laura, Alloa, Scotland

I hope a few more European leaders follow Gordon Brown's example. The EU must show solidarity when dealing with the corrupt leadership of the AU.

Rick Kriel, Bulawayo,

He should go and show some spine to make a speech haranguing and shaming that African Hitler who betrays his people, his country, his continent.

Go and give him what for and instead of the acquiescence of silence , tell it like it is and stand up for decent values, verbally, loudly and with moral indignation.

Silence and absence is the language of the coward. Speak up!

duncan robson, Cape Town, South Africa

Wonderful news At last a man with some guts I'm sick of African leaders who for some strange reason back dictators who harm the African people---and tell the world that they "care" for their people
Their own pockets more like-- and the heady thrill of"power"
Well done Mr Brown Stick with it !!

Anna, Cape Town, south africa

as a zimbabwean i would like to see some progress being made, but the only way for that to be done is for drastic steps to be made. please do not engage Mugabe. allowing him to be heard or seen at international events will only prop up his ego.
how much more must the poeple of zimbabwe suffer. do something, please!!!

chingwa, cape town, south africa

"Today, it is Zimbabwe,” said Aziz Pahad, South Africa’s deputy foreign minister. “Tomorrow it could be us.”

What is this comment about in the article? It seems very out of place. What was Pahad referring to? South Africa next as some sort of unwelcome guest. Shouldn't happen, if South Africa learn from teh mistakes of almost any other other African nation. But SA is in a great position not to. But then, so was Zimbabwe at independence..

Maurits van Eijck, Billericay, UK

I think Gordon Brown would be acting in a manner that is immature if he boycot the summit because of Mugabe. People of Zimbabwe are suffering therefore if the EU and Britain are to condem Mugabe they should do it on the summit rather than acting as if they are scared of him.

james, London,

Zimbabwe is close to our hearts, we lived there and in neighbouring Zambia for several years. We have visited every couple of years since we left watching Mugabe's regime ruin the most beautiful country in the world, murdering and starving his own people to maintain power.
Our close friends battle on with day to day life there. Mr H went to Southern Rhodesia in the sixties as a British policeman and fought in the Rhodesian war. They won't leave because they have elderly relatives who can't be moved. We were taking our children on the 7th August to revisit the places where they spent lots of time as young children. We have postponed the trip with a very heavy heart.
Wouldn't a change of government and PM be a good time to show the world that we WILL NOT tolerate despots, corrupt mass murderers running countries in the 21st century. This is not about Britain becoming a colonial power again, this is a humanitarian crisis and we are the Zimbabwean people's only hope.

Amanda Graham, Bath, Britain

Tony Blair is a war criminal and Brown does not boycott him. Bush is a war criminal and Brown does not boycott him.

Mugabe is a dictator and Brown cannot stand by his side.
What a weird world?

If somebody can find any rationale behind that position, I personally can't, except that it may just be racism.

mak, SR, US

Well done Gordon Brown for sticking to principle!

Shame on you Aziz Pahad for the U-turn that you have made in your principles. Would you not have called on Gordon Brown to boycott the meeting had it been 1980 and had PW Botha been invited?

Eric de la Harpe, READING, Oxon