SOUTH AFRICA:South Africa's powerful Cosatu trade union federation said yesterday it would mobilise the world's workers to isolate Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, accusing him of ruling illegally.
"The federation is appalled at the levels of violence and intimidation being inflicted on the people of Zimbabwe by the illegitimate Mugabe regime," Cosatu said.
The two-million strong federation said it fully sympathised with the decision of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of Friday's presidential run-off. "The June 27th presidential election is not an election, but a declaration of war against the people of Zimbabwe by the ruling party."
The trade union federation called on workers across the world to isolate Mr Mugabe.
"We call on all our unions and those everywhere else in the world to make sure that they never ever serve Mugabe anywhere, including at airports, restaurants, shops etc.
"Further, we call on all workers and citizens of the world never to allow Mugabe to set foot in their countries."
Cosatu, an ally of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, said governments should not recognise Mr Mugabe's government, which it said had no mandate to rule after the disputed March 29th elections. - ( Reuters)