SMITH: SALMOND MUST APOLOGISE FOR ZIMBABWE GAFFE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

Iain Smith, North East Fife MSP and Convener of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party demanded an apology from the First Minister for continuing to woo the despotic and vilified regime in Zimbabwe.

Today, SNP backbencher Aileen Campbell circulated a Parliamentary Motion attacking Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe. This sentiment was not shared by Alex Salmond, who later in the day at First Minister's Questions remained defiant about sending letters to Robert Mugabe and refused to rule out further contact.

Mr Smith has lodged an amendment to Ms Campbell's motion calling on the First Minister to apologise.

Commenting, Mr Smith said:

"The SNP's stance on Zimbabwe is thoroughly confusing. This morning, Aileen Campbell was calling for cross party support for a motion condemning Robert Mugabe's regime. Yet, this afternoon, the First Minister remained defiant about sending letters to a dictator who has shown such callous disregard for his people.

"The international community is turning its back on Robert Mugabe. The UN has condemned him. Even backbench SNP Members are campaigning against him.

"At First Minister's Questions, Nicol Stephen gave Alex Salmond the perfect opportunity to apologise to the people of Scotland for bringing disrepute on our nation. But such is the First Minister's determination to grandstand on the international stage, he dodged the question.

"The First Minister should be focusing on fixing the SNP's broken manifesto promises, rather than wooing the despotic and vilified regime in Zimbabwe. The First Minister must stop this nonsense and apologise to the people of Scotland."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The text of Mr Smith's amendment is below:

As an amendment to motion S3M-02274 in the name of Aileen Campbell, 'International Pressure on Zimbabwe'

Insert at end:

considers that the First Minister's letter to Robert Mugabe asking for support for Scotland to be given observer status at the UN was deeply inappropriate; further considers that, as the whole world is moving to cast out President Mugabe, this ill-advised correspondence with the despotic and vilified regime in Zimbabwe is indicative of the First Minister's preference for global grandstanding rather than fixing the SNP's broken manifesto promises; and calls for the First Minister to apologise to the people of Scotland.

The text of Aileen Campbell's original motion is below:

Short Title: International Pressure on Zimbabwe

S3M-02274 Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament

 welcomes the decision of Her Majesty the Queen to withdraw Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, from his honorary position as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath; believes that as long as the UK Honours system exists, it should not be seen to reward anyone who disrespects basic human rights and fundamental freedoms; further welcomes the intervention by former South African President, Nelson Mandela, referring to "the tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe, and calls on the international community to redouble efforts to achieve lasting peace, freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.