Mugabe gives U.N. body anti-U.S. rant

ROME, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe used a United Nations gathering in Rome Monday to lambaste the United States and Britain.

The 81-year-old spoke at the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, and compared U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

"The voice of Mr. Bush and the voice of Mr. Blair can't decide who shall rule in Zimbabwe, who shall rule in Africa, who shall rule in Asia, who shall rule in Venezuela, who shall rule in Iran, who shall rule in Iraq," he said.

European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj expressed regret over Mugabe's "unconstructive" statements, the BBC said.

Mugabe is officially banned from traveling to European Union countries, but is allowed to visit them when on U.N. business.

The U.S. ambassador to the FAO, Tony Hall, said he was amazed the organization had invited a leader "who has done so much to hurt his own people." Zimbabwe is struggling to feed an estimated 3.8 million people in rural areas, and has to import at least 37,000 tons of corn a week.