South Africa says no need for Zimbabwe military intervention

South Africa does not believe there is a need for military intervention in Zimbabwe, the deputy foreign minister said Wednesday, amid calls for peacekeepers from that country's opposition leader.

"In our experience it is easy to talk about military action but putting it into effect is much more difficult," said Aziz Pahad. "We do not believe there is any need for it in Zimbabwe. It is not realistic -- not possible."

Pahad said there was obvious concern about violence since the March election.

"We have no alternative but to make every possible effort to get parties talking to each other and reaching an agreement," he said.

"It is common cause that (President Thabo) Mbeki's efforts had brought about elections on March 29. No other head of state has been subjected to such systematic international attacks as President Mbeki has on Zimbabwe."

Mbeki, the regionally appointed mediator for Zimbabwe, has been criticised for his quite diplomacy approach to the crisis.

"We believe that future developments will determine that we are the only government to take the correct decisions," he said.

According to Pahad, Mbeki was due to attend a meeting being organised on Zimbabwe in Swaziland with other regional leaders that could occur as early as later Wednesday.

King Mswati of Swaziland and Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete met on Zimbabwe earlier Wednesday as part of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community's security troika. Angola is also part of the group but could not attend.

SADC chief Tomaz Augusto Salomao, who was at the meeting in Swaziland, said Mbeki had been invited to that meeting, but had a discussion with the Swazi king instead of attending.

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