JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 26 (UPI) -- Amid broad attacks on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, a man diplomats say could help defuse the issue, South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, is silent.
Nelson Mandela, who the urbane, shrewd and complex Mbeki succeeded as president, finally broke his silence on the eve of the violence-tainted presidential runoff election, and lashed out at Mugabe in London Wednesday for a "tragic failure of leadership." He said he hoped Mbeki would follow suit.