SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt -- African efforts to encourage a deal between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his opponents showed no results Tuesday, while Mugabe's spokesman defiantly said his boss has no plans to step down and told western critics they can "go hang."
Zimbabwe's opposition also dampened hopes a coalition government might be negotiated, saying Mugabe had shut the door on talks by going ahead with last week's presidential runoff election that he won after a campaign tainted by attacks on his political foes.
Some leaders at the African Union summit had harsh words for Mugabe, producing sharp exchanges during closed-door meetings, participants said.
Vice-President Mompati Merafhe of Botswana said Mugabe's government should not be recognized and Zimbabwe should be barred from AU gatherings.
"The outcome of these elections does not confer legitimacy on the government of President Mugabe," Merafhe said, according to a statement released by his aides.
Officials from Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone also criticized Mugabe and Zimbabwe's leader responded, said Ismail Ndiye, a delegate from Senegal who was at the session.
"He had a lot to say," Ndiye said, but declined to give any details.
An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossam Zaki, said Mugabe spoke for a half hour and lashed out at some African countries who spoke out against him.
Mugabe's African peers are trying to persuade the 84-year-old leader to loosen his grip and share power with his top rival Morgan Tsvangirai who got the most votes among the four candidates who competed in the opening round of the presidential election March 29. Tsvangirai dropped out of the runoff with Mugabe because of killings and beatings of his supporters.
African countries are deeply divided, with many reluctant to put public pressure on Mugabe despite UN and western calls for tough action.
-- The Associated Press
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