African leaders discuss Zimbabwe without Mugabe

Southern African leaders met urgently today to address the deepening crisis over Zimbabwe’s contentious presidential election, but had little chance to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe, who skipped the emergency summit.

The summit reflected Mugabe’s growing isolation, as well as cracks in the usually uniform solidarity shown toward Mugabe by the Southern African Development Community. Mugabe, who has been in power 28 years, is the region’s longest-serving president.