The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Johannesburg

Human Rights Watch on Saturday called on regional leaders to pressure Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to stop what it called abuses against opposition members despite a power-sharing deal.

Heads of state of regional group SADC (Southern African Development Community) hold an emergency summit in Johannesburg on Sunday aimed at breaking deadlock over cabinet posts under the September 15 agreement between the ruling ZANU-PF and two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"SADC must now make sure that ZANU-PF respects both the letter and spirit of sharing power. Only then will we see the fundamental reforms necessary for restoring normality and human rights protection in Zimbabwe," U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said in a report.