SA condemns Zimbabwe military

South Africa is becoming increasingly critical

South Africa has criticised Zimbabwe's army for a thinly veiled warning that it would support only the current leadership in the forthcoming elections.

You cannot have a situation where in a sense the security forces are trying to pre-empt an election

Spokesman for South African President Thabo Mbeki

President Thabo Mbeki's spokesman said the role of the army was to defend democracy, not to deliver threats.

On Wednesday, Zimbabwean defence force commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe said he would only support a president who had fought in the liberation struggle.

The general's remarks were seen as a clear threat to opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, who did not fight in Zimbabwe's war for independence.

Call for democracy

The South African reaction came amid mounting international disapproval of President Robert Mugabe's campaign to quash opposition ahead of the March presidential poll.

The open criticism also represents a further distancing from Pretoria's traditional support for the Zimbabwean Government coupled with a policy of quiet persuasion.

Zvinavashe: Statement "unacceptable"

President Mbeki's official spokesman, Bheki Khumalo, said South Africa wanted to see democracy and the rule of law prevail in its neighbour.

"If indeed these allegations are true, then indeed that situation is not acceptable to us," Mr Khumalo told the French news agency AFP.

"You cannot have a situation where in a sense the security forces are trying to pre-empt an election."

Mr Khumalo said an official statement on Zimbabwe would be issued later on Friday.

'Zimbabwean values'

Supporters of Mr Mugabe frequently trumpet him as a revolutionary hero who helped liberate the country from white rule.

Mr Tsvangirai, who leads the popular Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has said he did not fight because he was supporting his father's large family.

The army was used to put down the riots in October 2000

The defence chief also said on Wednesday that the country's security forces would only support a president who would "pursue Zimbabwean values".

But Mr Khumalo called on the army to uphold the laws of Zimbabwe, whatever the government of the day.

"We are actually... opposed to military coups and therefore, you know, we will not support military government," he said.

The spokesman said South Africa had yet to discuss the latest developments with Zimbabwe but would raise them at a special summit of the Southern African Development Community in Malawi on Monday.

The European Union is expected to tell a Zimbabwean Government delegation on Friday that the country will face sanctions if human rights abuses are not curbed.

There is also widespread speculation that Zimbabwe faces ejection from the Commonwealth.