It is not unusual for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to lash into Western leaders in his public interventions, but this week he expanded his field of fire to include the International Criminal Court which he accused of double standards.
Speaking at a summit of African and European leaders in Tripoli that ended on Tuesday, Mr. Mugabe asked why the ICC was not bringing charges against former US President George W. Bush and ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the many civilian lives lost in the invasion of Iraq instead of prosecuting Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for his alleged crimes against humanit and war crimes in western Darfur region.
Mr. Bashir stayed away from the summit after European leaders objected to his presence, but Mr. Mugabe charged Western hypocrisy. The African Union has also objected to Bashir’s indictment, asking the United Nations to quash it.
Political analyst Tom Cargill of Chatham House, a London studies institute, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that Mr. Mugabe’s charges of double standards by the ICC are untrue and intended to influence his peers among African leaders.
Political commentator Brilliant Mhlanga said although Mr. Mugabe has his own issues on human rights he is justified in demanding the indictment of Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair.