President at sister's funeral, attacks West over sanctions

Описание: (1 Aug 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of funeral ceremony at Heroes Acre burial ground
2. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arriving at his sister's, Sabina Mugabe, funeral
3. Various of coffin being carried down red carpet
4. Wide of Mugabe at podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean President:
"We have just had our inclusive delegation paying a visit to Europe to seek the removal of sanctions, and the delegation came back empty handed."
6. Cutaway of audience
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean President:
"Remove so and so and of course it's Mugabe first who must go according to them and then we will relate with you, to hell with them. To hell, hell, hell with them."
8. Wide of crowd at funeral
STORYLINE
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said on Sunday the death of his sister robbed him of one of his closest friends and allies in his lifelong fight against colonial era rule and Western dominance in Africa.
In an emotional and angry address at the state funeral of Sabina Mugabe, 80, President Mugabe attacked the West and said after his sister's death on Thursday he will not abandon their cause.
"To hell" with Europeans and Americans opposed to his rule, he said. "To hell, hell, hell with them."
US Ambassador Charles Ray left the funeral during Mugabe's address, but later refused to comment on his action.
Sabina Mugabe retired from Parliament in 2008 after a lifetime in politics alongside Mugabe.
She was buried on Sunday at Heroes Acre, a national shrine for loyalist politicians and fallen guerrillas from the liberation war that ended white rule in Zimbabwe in 1980.
Mugabe accused the West of imposing sanctions on his nation to force his ouster.
"Remove so and so, and of course it's Mugabe first who must go according to them," he said on Sunday.
Since a power sharing deal formed a coalition government last year with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, Zimbabwe has campaigned for the lifting of travel, banking and business bans and other sanctions targeting Mugabe and some 200 of his party leaders and associates.
Mugabe blames Western sanctions for the nation's economic meltdown.
Critics say the often violent seizures of thousands of white-owned commercial farms Mugabe ordered since 2000 disrupted the agriculture-based economy in the former regional breadbasket that now needs food aid.
Mugabe said a "European-American clique" imposed sanctions for their own reasons.
Western governments argue Mugabe has not done enough to honour the power sharing agreement to restore law and order and bring about sweeping democratic reforms.
Sabina Mugabe was among those barred from Western countries.
Mugabe's sister retired from active politics in 2005 after she suffered a stroke but she remained a constant force at Mugabe's side and remained in Parliament.
The death on Thursday of Robert Mugabe's most trusted family confidante and associate is a severe blow to the 86-year-old president, who is often seen as having few close friends or trusted advisors.

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