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Friday, 20 June, 2008

Brian Thornton | 18:41 UK time, Friday, 20 June 2008

mugabe203.jpgZIMBABWE
Tonight we begin by exploring the gathering storm in Zimbabwe, and the possibility according to a senior Western diplomat that that Robert Mugabe is "moments" away from being indicted by the UN for crimes against humanity. Is that possible and practical? The violence is escalating - senior African leaders are now openly criticising Robert Mugabe, and with the murder and torture of many MDC supporters, the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will announce on Monday whether he will withdraw from the Presidential run-offs next week. We'll be joined by the Zimbabwean Ambassador to the UN.

EU
The EU Treaty row took another turn today. If you thought Britain had fully ratified the Lisbon Treaty yesterday - it hasn't. The Prime Minister made the surprise announcement today that we have to wait for a High Court ruling on a bid by the tycoon Stuart Wheeler to force a referendum on the treaty. The judge in the case expressed surprise that the government had pressed ahead with the ratification process. Meanwhile all sorts of accusations are flying around the Brussels summit apportioning blame for the Irish No vote - Nicholas Sarkozy pointed the finger at the EU commissioner Peter Mandelson. David Grossman is there making sense of all that - and I will be interviewing Stuart Wheeler.

MARKOV
The murder of Georgi Markov on Waterloo Bridge in 1978 brought the Cold War to the heart of London. He was a communist defector from Bulgaria working for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã and he was thought to have been stabbed by the poisoned tip of an umbrella. The assassin was never found although the KGB and the Bulgarian secret police were suspected, but Scotland Yard is back on the case. It confirmed today that detectives have visited Bulgaria twice this year. We revisit the story of the man murdered by a tiny pellet containing 0.2mg of ricin - the third and successful attempt on his life.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 2.

    The EU Treaty (treat 4 who)
    the judge on the case? (what kind of case)expressed surprise, surprise at what?
    I cant see him surprising me. bread butter what side comes to mind

  • Comment number 3.

    I got it Auntie, Mad bob isnt mad I am/or has the other other bbc got 2 u?

  • Comment number 4.

    So Auntie/whitepersonage its the coughing you cant fondle/handle

  • Comment number 5.

    The going back, is/can be a usefull tool dont you think Auntie beeb.

  • Comment number 6.

    On Zimbabwe shouldn't it be the SADC that calls it off? Then the pressure from the AU could convert to a UN intervention?

    Can't remember his name but wasn't that KGB Colonel, he's been on the telly a few times, Oleg Kalugin thought to be the Russian end? I am sure you would know and I am very hazy about it.

  • Comment number 7.

    Good on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã for keeping up coverage on the depressing situation in Zimbabwe. Just a single detachment of troops on the way to Iaq or Kabul could be divered to do a necessary job in Harare, and take out that mad dictator and his cronies. Zimbabweans deserve our support and need us to intervene now.

  • Comment number 8.

    #6 The second para was of course meant to be identified to the Markov story.

    For Monday:

    The leader of the Labour Party in Scotland again calls on the SNP to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.

    Are they prepared for division if it happens? I don't think there will be a change in the timetable but is this a reason for having the debate.

    The government, media and the countries are sleepwalking towards a disaster - not whether Scotland stays or goes.

    For example if the issues are not thought through well in advance will one of your other stories

    "Scotland would be in budget surplus of more than £800m with a "geographical share" of North Sea revenues, figures suggest."

    could become a blight on a new relationship. I don't see us handing over any oil or gas by the way.

    Is the government machinery so easy to disentangle that you leave it till the last minute? T5. Lisbon. 16000 Poles will arrive from Europe - and I like the Poles by the way.

  • Comment number 9.

    You people must dread seeing this ID.

    OK, I think anybody that knows about my views and alleged experiences would class me as a Grade A nutter. I don't agree of course.

    Therefore you may say people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

    But it seems to me that there is a real problem on this site with far right racist activists peddling their arguments in sheep's clothing.

    I get my posts pulled pretty regularly often for unfathomable reasons. If I get excited and go over the top then the censorship is fine. I am starting to suspect though that there are malicious complaints so that people can dominate the agenda.

    Censorship goes against the debate issue. I don't like to use the complain button because often its not the specific post - its the impact of a series of posts that must affect the number of people, and their background, who would take part on your site.

    Therefore it is your problem not mine.

    Maybe I am being overly protective and people out there are quite able to handle this strategy and recognise the propaganda for what it is.

    You are probably well aware of this and maybe don't view it as serious.

    There doesn't seem to be an obvious solution.

    I was contemplating putting in posts that mention Searchlight the anti-fascist magazine each time I see certain individuals at work - without mentioning the individuals. I am too poor to subscribe these days (best to MI5) but assume it is still going.

    I assume that that won't qualify as an advertisement and get pulled?







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