WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kerry responded to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s statement Thursday that he’d be open to talks with the opposition party boycotting runoff elections due to state-sponsored terror:

“Robert Mugabe’s claim to be open to negotiations, even as he prepares to declare himself the winner of tomorrow’s sham elections, is probably nothing but a diversion. This ruthless dictator has waged a campaign of political murder. The international community must match its recent words of condemnation with action that sends a simple, unequivocal message: Mugabe must go. The UN Security Council must quickly impose targeted sanctions on Mugabe, his cronies, and his family. Freezing bank accounts and imposing further travel restrictions could prod those around Mugabe to reassess their own self-interest. But more importantly, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) must play a sustained and active role in getting Mugabe to negotiate a peaceful transition to democracy that includes a civil protection force. If Mugabe refuses, both SADC and AU should suspend Zimbabwe’s membership and consider applying their own sanctions. The United States and the European Union must stand alongside African governments by promising financial backing for a local protection force and an economic recovery package for Zimbabwe as soon as a transitional authority is in place.”

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