September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

GENEVA, Sept 17: Zimbabwe on Wednesday launched a fierce attack against France at the UN Human Rights Council, saying its actions in Rwanda and Corsica should stop it criticising any other state’s rights record.

“We challenge the EU through France to address issues of human rights in Corsica, in the collectivities and overseas departments or regions,” Zimbabwe’s ambassador Enos Mafemba said.

“We also ask France what its role was in the genocide in Rwanda,” he added.

Rwanda’s government last month published a report alleging that France was aware of preparations for the 1994 genocide, contributed to planning the massacre and actively took part in the killings.

The Zimbabwean ambassador’s ire had been sparked by comments by French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Mattei —speaking on behalf of the European Union — which expressed concern at recent political violence in the southern African country.

Mafemba said the European Union displayed a “holier than thou” attitude to human rights, and that Zimbabwe “will be convinced that the European Union is honest and sincere about human rights for all if it stops politicisation, selectivity and hypocrisy.”

He also urged France, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, not to become a “mouthpiece for the British Labour regime and other racist groups.”

Britain is the former colonial ruler of Zimbabwe and veteran President Robert Mugabe has long accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair of seeking to destabilise the country.—AFP