Envoys will not apologise to Mugabe

Harare, 11 Aug-(ANA)-European and US diplomats have refused to apologise for walking out of a funeral for the sister of Robert Mugabe after Zimbabwe's president made a speech attacking the West.

Charles Ray, the US ambassador to the country, said  that he would not say sorry for walking out of the ceremony when Mugabe told Western nations to "go to hell" after alleging that they interfered in Zimbabwean affairs.

Ray, who was summoned to the foreign ministry along with other diplomats for an explanation, said he had followed normal diplomatic protocols in attending the funeral of Mugabe's sister Sabina, who died aged 80.

However, the ambassador told journalists at a news conference that when Mugabe began his remarks "it became clear to me ... that I was not welcome".

"When America is treated in the manner that it was treated on Sunday, by anyone, at any time, then I will react," Ray said. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 August 2010---------