British PM: Mugabe has blood on his hands

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe "has blood on his hands" after the violence leading up to last week's election and should step down, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says.

Brown also Wednesday urged the U.N. to send an envoy to the the African country to mediate.

His comments came as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said ongoing violence in Zimbabwe was "not conducive" to negotiations with Mugabe, as urged by Tuesday's resolution from a meeting of the African Union in Egypt.

Tsvangirai thanked the AU, a coalition of African leaders and heads of states, for the resolution but said it did not go far enough.

"The resolution does not adequately deal with the ongoing violence in Zimbabwe," Tsvangirai said. "In addition, the resolution does not recognize the illegitimacy of the June 27 elections and the fact that most African leaders refuse to recognize Mugabe as the Head of State." Watch more on the violence in Zimbabwe »

"The conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe today are not conducive to negotiations," Tsvangirai added.

Brown turned up the heat on Mugabe, promising further sanctions if democracy was not restored.

"It is indeed time for Mugabe to step down," the British prime minister said. "He has blood on his hands for what has happened during the election campaign where so many people died and where so many people were displaced."

Mugabe was sworn in for another term as Zimbabwe's president after Friday's presidential runoff, widely derided by international leaders as a "sham" because his only opponent, Tsvangirai, had withdrawn from the race citing widespread violence, intimidation, and vote-rigging. Watch how firms are feeling pressure to pull out of Zimbabwe »

"The second round was a travesty at the hands of what is a blood-stained regime," Brown said.

Brown praised the AU for calling for an end to violence and discussing a transitional government in Zimbabwe. He said he had also talked with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday morning and would press for tough action at the U.N. Security Council later in the day.

Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki has ruled out intervention in Zimbabwe, saying only Zimbabweans can resolve the crisis, according to reports. Watch Mugabe's outburst in a hallway at the AU Summit »

Mbeki spoke to his state broadcaster Tuesday after an African Union summit. The summit confirmed Mbeki as mediator between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mbeki was asked about EU calls for Tsvangirai to lead any coalition government. Mbeki said it was a question for Zimbabweans, The Associated Press reported.

Tsvangirai also Wednesday criticized the idea of creating a unity government to help solve the issue.

"The (AU) resolution endorses the concept of a Government of National Unity without acknowledging that the MDC, as the winner of the last credible elections on 29th March 2008, should be recognized as the legitimate government of Zimbabwe," Tsvangirai said.

"Our commitment to a negotiated settlement is not about power-sharing or power deals but about democracy, freedom and justice."

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