New AU chief meets President Mugabe

New African Union chief meets Mugabe


THE chairman of the African Union's executive, Jean Ping, Monday held "very constructive" talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on the country's five-week-old electoral crisis, a senior diplomat told AFP.

Jean Ping, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Gabon, took over the chairmanship of the organisation in February this year from former Malian President Alpha Ouma Konare, who served as chairman since 2003.

"Ping and his delegation were received by Mugabe. The discussions were very constructive and provided an opportunity to review all aspects of the situation, " an African diplomat said.

Speaking from Addis Ababa where the African Union is headquartered, the diplomat said Ping travelled to Harare with African Union political affairs commissioner Julia Dolly Joiner and peace and security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra.

Ping "also had a working meeting with the chairman of Zimbabwe's electoral commission during which the two men reviewed the entire electoral process from the start," the diplomat said.

"The meeting allowed us to look at all the scenarios for the coming weeks, notably what is being done to ensure a satisfactory second round in the coming weeks," he said.

The diplomat added that the delegation was expected to leave Harare later Monday and fly on to Arusha, in Tanzania, for a meeting of the continental organization’s executive council.

South African President Thabo Mbeki also spoke with Ping over the weekend and offered him the use of a specially chartered plane, another diplomat said.

Ping's visit to Harare comes amid pressing calls from the U.S. for increased African Union involvement in the Zimbabwean electoral crisis.

Official results released by the ZEC indicate that a run-off election is needed between President Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, but the opposition leader maintains he won outright in the first round.