Zimbabwe threatens to expel U.S. ambassador

Apparently outraged by comments by U.S. diplomats, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe threatened to expel the U.S. ambassador as an historic runoff election campaign began in this southern African nation. Mugabe also accused the United States of interfering in its internal politics after Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazier said opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won a majority of votes in the first round. Mugabe called Frazier's statements "disgraceful." But Mugabe has squandered his reputation as a rebel and continues to be determined to hold onto power at any cost, including the lives of his countrymen. Dozens of Tsvangirai have been killed in post-election violence, reportedly directed by the government. Inflammatory rhetoric from Mugabe does not make any of his abuses go away. The 84-year-old Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it achieved independence from Great Britain in 1980, but his party lost control of parliament for the first time in the March 29 elections.