Zimbabwe summons Western diplomats on Mugabe speech walkout; US, Europeans refuse to apologize

Diplomats won’t apologize for Mugabe walkout

HARARE, Zimbabwe — American and European diplomats say they were summoned to Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry and asked to apologize for walking out of a speech in which President Robert Mugabe attacked the West.

U.S. Ambassador Charles Ray said Tuesday he refused to apologize for walking out of a state funeral Sunday after Mugabe told Western nations to “go to hell” after alleging that they interfered in Zimbabwean affairs. The U.S. is Zimbabwe’s biggest aid donor.

Ray said he followed normal diplomatic protocols in attending the funeral of Mugabe’s sister Sabina, who died aged 80. But he said that when Mugabe began his invective, “we walked away as we were very disappointed in his conduct, so we have nothing to apologize for.”