Mugabe to Attend EU-Africa Summit; Brown to Boycott

Mr. Brown spoke Tuesday shortly after President Mugabe told the Portuguese news agency Lusa that he will attend the summit in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, on December 8 and 9.

The British prime minister told reporters that he cannot sit down with Mr. Mugabe given what he said are conditions of oppression in Zimbabwe.

Portugal invited Mr. Mugabe at the insistence of the African Union, but has voiced concern that his presence will overshadow the summit. Last week, Foreign Minister Luis Amado said Portugal would prefer the Zimbabwean president not to attend.

Portugal has been criticized by some countries for inviting Mr. Mugabe, who has been accused of human rights violations and ruining his country's economy.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department condemned what it called the severe beating of 22 pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, on November 22. Spokesman Sean McCormack said the attack demonstrated President Mugabe's disregard for democracy, human rights standards, and the opinion of the international community.

Zimbabwe is grappling with an economic crisis marked by 80 percent unemployment and an inflation rate estimated at almost 15,000 percent.

Mr. Mugabe blames his country's economic problems on British and American sanctions against his government.

The two-day EU-Africa summit is aimed at strengthening political and economic ties between the two continents. It will be the first summit between European and African leaders in seven years. - VOA News