President Obama calls it like it is

President Obama focused attention on Mr. Mugabe further Tuesday in calling
Zimbabwe's plight untenable.

"I'll be honest with you," the American president said. "I am heartbroken
when I see what has happened in Zimbabwe."

In a White House meeting with a group of young Africans, Mr. Obama added:
"Mugabe is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter and -
I'm just going to be very blunt - I do not see him serving his people."

Mr. Obama said Harare must signal more convincing reforms are being
implemented before Washington will consider lifting travel and financial
sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle.

A spokesman for Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party called Mr. Obama's criticism
"hogwash." Rugare Gumbo accused the West of causing the suffering of
Zimbabweans by imposing sanctions over the past decade.

Sydney Chisi, one of the three Zimbabweans attending the White House youth
forum, said Mr. Obama's remarks were on target, adding that Harare invited
sanctions by engaging in gross human rights abuses.