The Robert Mugabe regime and its armed forces have created a vicious climate of fear in order to defy the will of the people and manipulate the outcome of the June 27 presidential run-off. I fully support the decision of Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to withdraw from the elections. I agree with the assessment of UN Secretary General Moon that "conditions do not exist for free and fair elections right now.

That is an understatement. Human rights monitors have documents the killing of more than sixty opposition political activists, the beating and torture of 2,000 others, the displacement of tens of thousands, and the suspension of nongovernmental aid programs that provide nutrition to an already vulnerable population. These are the actions of a desperate regime that has lost all legitimacy.

I believe the international community must act to impose sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies and thereby hasten the end of that regime. We should consider expelling Mugabe's diplomats from Washington and explore options with our friends in Africa and beyond, including suspending Zimbabwe's participation in regional organizations as long a Mugabe clings to power. The results of the March 29 election must form the basis of a post-Mugabe resolution in Zimbabwe.

Statement issued by Senator John McCain June 24 2008