Mugabe's regime will only end when he dies. Thabo is his brother and greatest supporter, stop looking to him to act. He won't.

chris powell, Durban, South Africa

If Sadam had been in Italy I am sure he would have been arrested. Why do our gutless politioans not stand up for humanities sake and arrest the man when he is abroad. He is a criminal who should not have diplomatic immunity, he shows no respect for it with any other nations diplomats.

james, southampton, england

Is it not time, or, more to the point, way past the time.We should give haven to our kinsmen in the former Rhodesia?

We should be eyeing SA as well..........

Our people went out there and built these countries under the umbrella of empire.

Should not have bothered. But save our own.

N Wilson, Bourne, Lincs UK

Wouldn't it be nice to see the international community taking more interest. I fail to see how Mugabe's days will be numbered the way things are currently going. Nothing will change, except that the number of opposition suporters killed will increase along with Mbeki's and Mugabe's credibility!?

Yan, Linz,

The Zimbabwe government wants aid organisations out of the way so they can turn up the violence without anyone witnessing. A Cambodia-like genocide is going to unfold in Zimbabwe unless the UN takes action.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

I'm afraid, since Zimbabwe does not have Oil, nothing will be done to help them.
If a speck of Oil could be found, the American's would be in like Flynn!!

Carrie, London,

Looks as though there is no crisis and that we are heading for an election that is substantially free and fair - at least that is what Thabo Mbeki is likely to say! Prove me wrong Thabo and do something effective for once!

Gerard, London, UK

Mugabe knows his days are numbered and a human rights trial is waiting at the end of the road.
The worst is other African leaders don't have the guts to stand up to him as the country starves.
The facts, Under Ian Smith white minority the country prospered, Under Mugabe it's been destroyed

Johny, Paris, France

Why Sierra Leone? I think it was civil war of 9 years before a UN intervention. And what did they have...diamond mines. Iraq had oil. As far as I'm aware Zimbabwe doesn't have much of anything. At least not enough to warrant an invasion. Although I support a military application of some kind.

Mike Thomas, London,

The Democrat controlled Congress and Democrat state governors in the US are planning to deploy similar tactics as those used by Mr. Mugabe' government for the US elections in the fall; ensuring Mr. Obama of the Presidency.

cypher, Winchester, Va, USA

Is there one good reason why Mugabe hasnt been taken out of power already?

cal, bangor, n.i

Invasion would give Mugabe just what he wants.

Stewart, Mold, North Wales

They have no oil, an invasion will not happen.

Anyway it should be left to other African states to intervene, all we need to do is ensure the safety of our nationals.

David Kinsley, Derby, UK

We went to war in Iraq to depost the dictator and set the region alight. Why do we do something about this one spiting in the World's face and trashing his own people?!

W. Skorko, London,

The black African wanted to run his own country without any interference from colonial Britain or any other European country. Well now he's doing just that so let them get on with it.

David Griffin, Devon, UK

Quite simply, if not absolutley ruthlessly, there are no assets in Zimbabwe like oil.

Humanitarian crisis or no.

Kathyrn, Preston, UK

Foreign Aid is the biggest contributer to these dictators. Without our money they would leave. If some country was to interfere in are elections we would detain them. What do they expect from this henchment?

pauline russell, honslow , uk

The Zimbabwe polls will be free-and-fair. How do I know this? The report has been already written by the SADC observers. It would be too embarrassing for Mbeki's failed mediation otherwise.

Matthew, London, UK

Nick - You can't re-invade excolonial countries, especially in Africa. One has to remember that Mugabe has a lot of support at home and elsewhere in Africa. Many of Africas problems have been caused by the void left post colonial rule. What do you do after you have control?

Brooke, Paris,

When will something be done about this despot ?

Martin Briggs, Heversham, England

There is no point....there isn't any oil there.

Andy, London,

Ourselves NIck?
Does that include yourself?
In case you hadn't noticed the armed forces are so under-funded/under-manned/over-stretched that they can barely meet the current demands, soldiers serving on operations back to back year after year.
Nice sentiment though.

Dave, Gibraltar,

There is no oil in Zimbabwe - so no benefit in invading - so the Govt will not do anything. What I dont understand is why we still have our ambasador in this place??

JS, Fleet, Uk

Mugabe has no morals, no concisious, no integrity, no pride and certainly no scrupples. He will continue to blame the west for what is essentially his making. He has probably stashed away enough money to get Zimbabwe out of its current misery. I feel for the ordinary citizen

JS, Fleet, Uk

Mbeki's efforts to divert the international community through 'quiet diplomacy' seem set to have been exploited to the extreme by 'Comrade Bob' plus now runs the highest risk of a hungry, broke, well armed and vicious militia about to go out of control. There are only days left to apply pressure.

Chris Clark, Ruislip Manor, United Kingdom

does the world require more horror then we are witnessing now when do we stand up to evil.

roy, ferreira do zezere, portugal

It is quite easy to understand, the UN, UK and USA wont do anything here unless there are large oil reserves in Zimbabwe.
For the sake of the starving let's hope some can be found soon!!

michael tindall, Christchurch, New Zealand

sorry guys no oil in Zimbabwe

Jose F-A, London, UK

The silence of Nelson Mandela on this subject is deafening !

George, Falkirk, Scotland

Will ,you are so right!!

Gordon Lonsdale , Northampton, uk

The endgame is about to be play out and I fear that it's going to get much worse.

Jas, Nottingham,

Isn't it time for South Africa to act?

It is certainly appalling to watch a man like Mugabe and the powerless U.N who do nothing.

Trish Niblock, Edinburgh, Scotland

Nick from Leiceester, you got it in one!

Susie flood, Carryduff, Northern Ireland

weve got what 2500 or 4000 soldiers in iraq basically doing nothing just sitting in basra airport. That number of our soldiers would wipe the floor with mugabes "veterans", send them down in HMS ocean with a few apaches, then tell mugabe if there is any political violence, we will intervene.

will, grimsby, uk

When are we going to invade and kick this regime out? We did it in Iraq, and this is a far more worthy cause.
The UN will do nothing as long as China has a veto, so let's just go in ourselves.

Nick, Leicester, UK