Roman Catholic Archbishop Urges Zimbabweans to Take to the Streets

Roman Catholic Archbishop Urges Zimbabweans to Take to the Streets to Bring Down Mugabe

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - A prominent Roman Catholic Archbishop and outspoken critic of President Robert Mugabe called Sunday for peaceful street protests aimed at overthrowing the longtime ruler, saying this week's parliamentary elections are certain to be rigged.

Pius Ncube, bishop of Zimbabwe's second-largest city of Bulawayo, told The Associated Press he was willing to put on his vestments and lead a march to Mugabe's presidential residence himself, but feared: "If I do it, I do it alone."

"The people are so scared," he said of the political climate in Zimbabwe ahead of the elections. "You are not going to get that where people are so cowardly."

Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader largely ostracized by the international community, has led Zimbabwe since the end of white rule in 1980.

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