UNITED NATIONS – U.N. Security Council members unanimously condemned Zimbabwe's government Monday, saying it has waged a "campaign of violence" against its opponents that has made it "impossible" to hold a fair presidential election.
The 15-nation council said it "condemns the campaign of violence against the political opposition ahead of the second round of presidential elections," resulting in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans.
Council members also warned that the violence and restrictions on opposition activists imposed by the government of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe "have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place" on Friday.
But the U.N. Zimbabwean Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku said the election would proceed Friday nonetheless.
Western powers, outraged at the turmoil in Zimbabwe, also tried but failed to include language asserting Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai should be considered the legitimate president, until another fair election can be held.
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