The U.N. chief said Monday that Zimbabwe's newly forged national unity government is an "imperfect" solution, and that it can only resolve the country's political crisis if President Robert Mugabe makes further progress.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon _ who met Mugabe on Sunday on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa _ said he urged him to move the country forward politically by taking important steps such as releasing political prisoners.
On Friday, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change party agreed to join a unity government with Mugabe within weeks, bowing to pressure to conclude a deal so the nation's humanitarian crisis can be tackled.
"While I have welcomed the decision of Mr. Tsvangirai and MDC's decision to join unity government, I still believe this is an imperfect situation," Ban told journalists Monday. "I have urged President Mugabe to build upon this new development ... and try to make progress as soon as possible, so that they can ensure the fuller democracy and freedom."
Zimbabwe has been in a political crisis since disputed presidential elections last year. Today, it has the world's highest official inflation rate, cholera has killed more than 3,000 people since August, and millions need food aid.
