The Archbishop of York is leading a day of fasting and prayer in support of the people of Zimbabwe.

Dr John Sentamu, one of the highest members of the Anglican church, is calling on people to join him in the action in York Minster.

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In December Dr Sentamu cut up his clerical collar on television and said he would not replace it until President Robert Mugabe was out of office.

Dr Sentamu said: "I want as many people as possible to join me at the Minster to pray for the situation in Zimbabwe and light a candle as a public demonstration of support for the people there.

"As a Christian community we must all stand together with our brothers and sisters living under the tyranny of Mugabe and pray that they will find deliverance."

'Basket case'

On Thursday, Dr Sentamu released a joint statement with the Archbishop of Canterbury calling for international action to prevent "horrific" violence in Zimbabwe.

And, speaking on Sunday, he told the BBC: "I've visited it a number of times and it was the bread basket of that region.

"It's now a basket case and the problems of Zimbabwe actually affect a lot of us - it's not just them."

He said that on other international issues, such as global warming and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, there had been "a coalition of nations" prepared to speak out.

"But, for Zimbabwe, it seems as if it doesn't really matter," he said. "And I actually think that the international community and all of us must be concerned about a country which once was a real showcase in Africa and now really is terrible."

In Zimbabwe, Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has failed to regain its parliamentary majority after a partial recount of votes from polls last month.

The opposition MDC says it also won presidential polls, although those results remain unreleased.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said the presidential results could be announced after the completion of the recounts, expected by Monday.

The head of the Anglican church in southern Africa, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, told the BBC he wanted a weapons embargo to be imposed against Zimbabwe.

"I would say Zimbabwe needs food, peace and security and not the arms. I would support such an embargo," Mr Makgoba said.

(BBC)

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