Commonwealth extends Zimbabwe suspension indefinitely

8.00am


ABUJA - Commonwealth heads of state have agreed to extend indefinitely Zimbabwe's suspension from the group and appoint a seven-nation panel to monitor political dialogue and human rights in the country, says a Zambian source.

The 54-strong group of mainly former British colonies suspended Zimbabwe early last year on the grounds that President Robert Mugabe had rigged his re-election and persecuted his opponents.

"The key issues are political dialogue between (ruling party) Zanu-PF and the opposition and human rights," the source told Reuters today.

The heads of state agreed to appoint a seven-nation committee headed by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to monitor developments in Zimbabwe and report back at any time, the source said.

A Commonwealth spokesman said he could not confirm the agreement and said the heads of state were still in the closed-door meeting.

The Zambian source said the special committee would not have to wait until the next Commonwealth heads of state meeting in two years to report progress in Zimbabwe.

"The chairman in consultation with the six wise men can recommend Zimbabwe's return before that," he said.

- REUTERS