US to spend several million dollars to monitor Zimbabwe election

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said it is spending several million dollars to help international observers ensure that presidential elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair.

"We are going to contribute several million dollars to the election observer effort," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters on Monday in the build-up to a presidential runoff on June 27.

The money is "not only to ensure that there are proper, sufficient numbers from countries that are going to supply the observers, but that they have the resources to do their job on the ground," McCormack said.

And during a press briefing on Tuesday, McCormack said the money is for "the combination of the two" elections, both the first round on March 29 and the runoff at the...