Police warn against election violence
Published: Feb. 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM
HARARE, Zimbabwe, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The head of Zimbabwe's police force is promising to crack down on any politically motivated violence surrounding next month's election.
Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri told a Harare news conference that under certain circumstances police will be empowered to use full force, including firearms, if necessary, The Zimbabwe Herald reported Wednesday.
"We are not deterred by utterances of hate from the Western world concerning this issue," said Chihuri, adding that he will never allow Kenya-style riots to break out in the streets of Zimbabwe.
On March 29 the African nation's longtime president, Robert Mugabe, may face the most serious challenge to his decades-long rule when the country holds presidential and parliamentary elections, CNN reports.
The 84-year-old Mugabe has been his country's only ruler since it gained independence from Britain more than 28 years ago.
Once prosperous, Zimbabwe suffers from shortages of food, electricity and foreign currency.
The most recent estimate of the nation's inflation rate exceeds 24,000 percent.
Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri told a Harare news conference that under certain circumstances police will be empowered to use full force, including firearms, if necessary, The Zimbabwe Herald reported Wednesday.
"We are not deterred by utterances of hate from the Western world concerning this issue," said Chihuri, adding that he will never allow Kenya-style riots to break out in the streets of Zimbabwe.
On March 29 the African nation's longtime president, Robert Mugabe, may face the most serious challenge to his decades-long rule when the country holds presidential and parliamentary elections, CNN reports.
The 84-year-old Mugabe has been his country's only ruler since it gained independence from Britain more than 28 years ago.
Once prosperous, Zimbabwe suffers from shortages of food, electricity and foreign currency.
The most recent estimate of the nation's inflation rate exceeds 24,000 percent.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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