Mandela lashes out at Mugabe

LONDON, June 26 (UPI) -- Nelson Mandela has lashed out at Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for what he called a "tragic failure of leadership."

Zimbabwe's neighbors, in a rare unified front, meanwhile, called for a delay in Friday's presidential runoff election in which Mugabe is now the only candidate.

Mandela, the former president of South Africa, broke his silence in bitterly criticizing Mugabe while attending a 90th birthday fundraising event in London, reportedly joining most of South Africa in rejecting the Mugabe regime. He spoke of concern and sadness at the chaos engulfing Zimbabwe,

Mandela said he decided to speak out after he learned Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader and Mugabe's opponent in the runoff, had pulled out of Friday's election.

Tsvangirai said that it was impossible to proceed with the vote because of the murder, torture and harassment of his supporters.

There were indications that the patience of Mugabe's remaining allies was at a breaking point, the Times of London said Thursday.

An emergency summit of southern African leaders called for Zimbabwe's election to be postponed because of the recent violence. The leaders of Swaziland, Tanzania and Angola, representing the SADC, said that the conditions would not permit a free and fair election.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth stripped Mugabe of an honorary knighthood and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told British companies not to "prop up" the regime. One such firm, Anglo American, reported investing millions in a platinum mine project but said it was "reviewing all options surrounding the development."