| The Australian government is considering
| |
| | be reached.
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| legal action to stop the country's
| |
| | Downer has told parliament that the
|
| national cricket team from playing in
| |
| | proposed tour must be canceled.
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| Zimbabwe later this year. Officials are
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| | "The fact is, the Australian cricket team
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| determined to stop the cricket world
| |
| | is caught in a political situation of no
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| champions from appearing to give support
| |
| | making of its own. And that is that if it
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| to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
| |
| | were to go to Zimbabwe, it would create
|
| From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.
| |
| | great political controversy," he said.
|
| The Australian government says that if
| |
| | "Back here in Australia, there's no doubt
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| its cricketers traveled to Zimbabwe, it
| |
| | that in Zimbabwe, President Mugabe and
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| would hand a propaganda victory to
| |
| | his regime would make propaganda capital
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| President Robert Mugabe.
| |
| | out of such a visit."
|
| The Australian national team won the
| |
| | Canberra has been one of the sternest
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| cricket World Cup in the Caribbean last
| |
| | critics of the Mugabe regime, and
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| month, giving it an especially high
| |
| | Australia's cricketers have canceled
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| profile. Canberra wants no hint that
| |
| | previous tours to Zimbabwe.
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| Australia supports the Mugabe regime,
| |
| | In 2005, the government of neighboring
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| which has been accused of sweeping human
| |
| | New Zealand refused to issue visas to the
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| rights violations and of leading the
| |
| | Zimbabwe team as a protest against the
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| country into despair and chaos.
| |
| | Mugabe government.
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| Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has
| |
| | But Australian cricket executives say
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| even offered to pay a $2 million fine
| |
| | they are dealing with "a very difficult
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| that might be imposed by cricket's world
| |
| | and complex issue."
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| governing body if the trip were
| |
| | They say that while they are aware of
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| abandoned.
| |
| | their government's concerns, they do have
|
| Downer has held emergency talks with
| |
| | to fulfill international obligations.
|
| Australian cricket officials. The
| |
| | Australia's tour of the southern African
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| government is also looking into taking
| |
| | nation would include three one-day
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| legal action to prevent the team from
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| | matches, and is scheduled to start in
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| playing in Zimbabwe if no agreement can
| |
| | September.
|
