Africa Braces for Zimbabwe Refugees

Zimbabwe's neighbors are preparing for a flood of refugees after next week's election, the London Times reports. About 3 million have already fled Robert Mugabe's regime to South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana. As it becomes increasingly clear that Mugabe will not give up power even if he loses the election, it is feared that millions more will soon be driven out.

Mugabe declared yesterday that "only God” could oust him and that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change will never be allowed to rule the country. Mobs of thugs linked to Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have been attacking and intimidating opposition supporters. Dozens have been killed. Neighboring states, feeling powerless to stop Mugabe, are receiving UN supplies to deal with the expected exodus. (More Zimbabwe stories.)