The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

Detention of Zimbabwe Opposition Leader is an outrage - Ford

4.11.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Jun 2008

Portrait-yellow: FORD David (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Leader David Ford MLA

Alliance Leader David Ford has blasted Robert Mugabe's police force for detaining Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai during the Presidential election campaign. David Ford hosted Mr Tsvangirai in Belfast a few weeks ago as he visited the Liberal International Congress. The Alliance Party also established links with Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change following his visit.

David Ford MLA said: "The unlawful detention of Morgan Tsvangirai is a total outrage. He must be released immediately. Robert Mugabe's actions are that of a desperate and brutal dictator whose support is vanishing by the day.

"We should be looking forward to a free and fair Presidential election in Zimbabwe but Mugabe's forces are trying to disrupt it with a campaign of terror.

"The intimidation and violence must end now so that a peaceful, democratic election campaign can take place. I am very confident that fair elections would see Morgan Tsvangirai take control and deliver a bright and positive future for Zimbabwe."

ENDS

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Previous news story: If crisis cannot be resolved, Sinn Fein and DUP are not fit to govern - Ford (Wed 4th Jun 2008).
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