Brussels 30/06/08: Robert Mugabe is today attending the African Union (AU) summit in Egypt. The UN has urged African leaders to try to negotiate a solution to the current crisis in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, African civil society groups meeting ahead of the AU summit have called on African leaders to publicly condemn the human rights violations and abuses which are taking place in Zimbabwe.

Mr Mugabe was sworn in as president during a quickly convened ceremony on Sunday, (29 June), about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced the results of the presidential election run-off after only one day of counting, (compared to the 40 days required after the first round.) The ZEC declared that Mr Mugabe had won 85.5% of the vote, but many ballots were spoiled. In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis.

In its recent discussions on a proposed resolution on Zimbabwe, the European Parliament's Committee on Development said that the EU should not support the proposal from South African president, Thabo Mbeki to mediate and set up a national government led by Mugabe. The European Parliament will vote on the resolution in July.

Avaaz, a new global web movement, is urging people to sign on to a petition to Thabo Mbeki and other Southern African leaders where they call for an emergency meeting of Southern African leaders.

• Click here to read the motion for a resolution from the European Parliament's Committee on Development
• Click here to read EEPA's report from the Committee on Development meeting on 24 June 2008
• Click here to read the statement by the Centre for Citizen’s Participation in the African Union
• Click here to sign the Avaaz petition