HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 24 (UPI) -- The African Union, citing more pressing problems, has refused to urge Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's regime to stop its forced evacuation of city dwellers.
The United States and Britain had requested AU to put pressure on Zimbabwe to stop its so-called clean-up program, the BBC reported Friday. The calls came after the United Nations reported that about 200,000 people have been made homeless, and at least three children have been crushed to death.
Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe say the demolitions are meant to punish urban residents who rejected Mugabe in recent elections. But Mugabe insists the demolitions are designed to restore law and order and drive out criminals and black marketers.
"If the government that they elected say they are restoring order by their actions, I don't think it would be proper for us to go interfering in their internal legislation," AU spokesman Desmond Orjiako told the BBC.
