South African President Thabo Mbeki has called for his country and internationally ostracised Zimbabwe to work together in dealing with their joint problems. Mr Mbeki has arrived in Harare for talks with President Robert Mugabe, who angrily pulled his country out of the Commonwealth forum of nations earlier this month. "Our countries have shared common problems. As they shared the common problems of oppression, they share common problems today," he said. "President Mugabe can assist us to confront the problems we have in South Africa so that we can assist you to solve the problems that face Zimbabwe."
| "I wanna be a dictator, like you, Bob!" |
Mr Mbeki has backed an increasingly isolated Mr Mugabe. He has also faced savage criticism at home for his failed bid to prevent the Commonwealth from extending sanctions on Zimbabwe first imposed over charges that Mr Mugabe rigged his 2002 re-election. |