'Suspend Zimbabwe' says Carrington

The BBC's Tim Sebastian met Lord Carrington

---

The former British foreign secretary and Nato secretary-general, Lord Carrington has called for the Commonwealth to suspend Zimbabwe.

---

Lord Carrington told Tim Sebastian for BBC HARDtalk that the Commonwealth did not have a future unless it could restore confidence in its ability by suspending Zimbabwe and its controversial leader, Robert Mugabe.

He's obviously got the army on his side because he's made quite sure that they are properly paid.

Lord Carrington

"I do think this is very serious for the Commonwealth," he said.

"If the Commonwealth doesn't really believe in a popular democratic system in which there is a free and fair election, I think people begin to wonder what is the object of the organisation."

Climate of fear

The Commonwealth observer group in Zimbabwe has strongly condemned the country's presidential election, saying it was held in a climate of fear.

However, the organisation has previously been split over the issue, with Tanzania and Namibia publicly opposing any call by Britain, Australia and New Zealand to suspend Zimbabwe in the run up to the election.

Lord Carrington was foreign secretary from 1979-1982 and took part in the negotiations that brought an end to white-ruled Rhodesia and paved the way for Zimbabwe.

He expressed concern that President Robert Mugabe had been elected to another term in office.

"I think it's all terribly sad and the people who are going to suffer are the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

"They've got inflation at over 100%, enormous unemployment, awful AIDs problems. It's really terribly sad what's happening, and I think probably a shortage of food in the near future."

Power and influence

He was also worried about Mr Mugabe's influence over the army in Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe casts his vote at the Zimbabwe elections

"He's obviously got the army on his side because he's made quite sure that they are properly paid," he said.

The Tory peer also spoke about the importance of South Africa, which is in a key position to influence events.

South Africa's economy is firmly linked to that of Zimbabwe, and the country's ruling party, the African National Congress, has congratulated Mr Mugabe on his victory.

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has yet to comment on the result, although Lord Carrington predicted that Mr Mbeki would be supportive.

"I think there's a sort of feeling of black African solidarity and I think probably President Mbeki feels that," he said.

"Difficult"

Lord Carrington who dealt with Mr Mugabe in the 1979 Lancaster House agreement, which oversaw the transition to majority rule in Zimbabwe called the president "very intelligent, but very difficult".

He also said he has a history of being power crazy at the expense of his country.

"I'm sure what has happened over these past three or four years has been a determination on his part to stay as president of Zimbabwe come what may, having no regard for the fact that he's bankrupt the country," he said.

You can hear the HARDtalk interview in full at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in GMT)
14 March 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT)
14 March 0430, repeated 1130, 1630, 1930, 0030