Iran urges dialog between warring sides to Zimbabwe crisis

EghtesadOnline: Iran has called on opposite sides to the political crisis in Zimbabwe to resolve their problems through peaceful means within the framework of the country's constitution.

News ID: ۷۸۰۵۰۸

20 November 2017

Iran “is carefully monitoring all developments” in Zimbabwe which has seen the military seize power and place President Robert Mugabe under house arrest, Foreign Ministry spokesman  Bahram Qassemi said on Thursday.

Tehran "wants all the parties involved in recent events to resolve the problems through dialogue and peaceful means, within the framework of the constitution and democratic process, free of any violence or resort to force and on the basis of the wishes and interests of the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

According to PressTV, Qassemi touched on the efforts of African bodies, especially the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as some African leaders to settle the turmoil in Zimbabwe.

The official expressed hope that these efforts would reach the desired outcome as soon as possible and lead to the establishment and continuity of peace, stability and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.

Earlier this week, Zimbabwe's military deployed armored vehicles to the streets of the capital, Harare, and seized control of the southern African nation.

The army has denied a military takeover, but the situation bears all the hallmarks of a coup.

On Thursday, Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai demanded the resignation of President Mugabe who is kept under house arrest with his wife.

Bombing in Kabul

Qassemi also condemned a bombing near a hotel in the Afghan capital of Kabul that killed at least 18 Afghan people on Thursday, with the terrorist group of Daesh claiming responsibility.

The spokesman also offered Iran's sympathies with the Afghan government, nation and the families of the victims.

Torn by decades of Taliban-led insurgency since the US invasion in 2001, Afghanistan has recently seen the emergence of Daesh which is facing complete rout in Iraq and Syria.