World food crisis

Criticism of Mugabe at UN food summit

Article published on the 2008-06-02 Latest update 2008-06-03 09:30 TU

Robert Mugabe and his wife arrive in Rome
(Photo: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe arrived in Rome on Sunday for the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture summit. About 50 heads of state and government are expected to attend, including the presidents of France, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt and Iran. Mugabe and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s attendance have sparked international condemnation and protests in Italy on Monday.

Mugabe is subject to a European Union travel ban, but he is authorised to attend UN events. His arrival in Rome was a surprise.

The Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called his attendance “obscene”, and a spokesman for the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it is “particularly unfortunate… given what he has done in relation to contributing to difficulties on food supply in Zimbabwe."

Zimbabwe is facing a serious food crisis after its government launched a reform of the farming sector that crippled it.

In Rome, protesters demonstrated against Mugabe and Ahmadinejad. Italy's libertarian Radical Party plans a sit-in against both leaders on Tuesday under the slogan "We're Hungry for Freedom".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to open the conference on Tuesday. He will unveil an "action plan" to confront rising food prices that have sparked protests and riots around the world.