Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai appeals for lifting of sanctions

(11 Jun 2009) 1. Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister, walking to podium, zoom in 2. Wide of Tsvangirai speaking, pan to audience 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister: "We decided that we had to take the struggle for democracy into a new arena - but this does not compromise our idea to fight for democracy. Like Nelson Mandela, I agreed to work with a non-democratic regime as a transition to full democracy." 4. Wide shot as reporter asks question 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister: "If there is anyone who would be afraid of being assassinated - it is me. So, I don't think there is any such an assassination list. It may be some paranoia about what the government used to do and therefore it is a perpetuation of a kind of mindset - I'm sure that there is no such threat." 6. Wide shot 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister: "If it was my wish, 10 - 20 years ago President Mugabe would have retired from politics in Zimbabwe. But he is a political reality in our situation. We've entered into an agreement with President Mugabe. Let's wait through until such time that the electoral process will be the only basis upon which the people of Zimbabwe will decide whether he will have any role." 8. Cutaway audience 9. SOUNDBITE:(English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister: "What is important is to have an understanding. We move away from the sceptical position to a position where there is an understanding that what is happening in Zimbabwe is an irreversible process towards change and towards transition. I think that is a very critical element. To me that would be a fundamental understanding. Secondly I think that yes, I don't have to hide it - I think it would be important for the United States to give transitional support to the government - but for the sake of helping this government survive. Because the alternative is too ghastly to contemplate. If this government were to collapse because it has failed to raise sufficient resources the danger is that ... what is there to replace it? And what will be the future of Zimbabwe? To me that is very, very critical." 10. Pan shot of audience, to Tsvangirai STORYLINE: Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai urged the United States on Wednesday to support his government, despite abuses by his coalition partner, President Robert Mugabe. Western leaders have long isolated Zimbabwe, accusing Mugabe of trampling on democracy and ruining a once-vibrant economy. Tsvangirai took his Movement for Democratic Change into a coalition government with the long-time autocratic president in February to end the country's political deadlock and economic collapse. "We decided that we had to take the struggle for democracy into a new arena - but this does not compromise our idea to fight for democracy," Tsvangirai said. "Like Nelson Mandela, I agreed to work with a non-democratic regime as a transition to a full democracy." Tsvangirai rejected reports that allies of Mugabe had drawn up an assassination list of opponents. "If there is anyone who would be afraid of being assassinated, it would be me," he said. "I am sure that there is no such threat." Both Tsvangirai and his finance minister, Tendai Biti, have urged the West to lift what they called "restrictive measures" against Zimbabwe, claiming that the coalition government was making progress toward economic and democratic change. On Wednesday, Tsvangirai said two ministers close to Mugabe, central bank governor Gideon Gono and the attorney general, Johannes Tomana, should resign. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...