|PIC1|The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a joint statement concerning the deteriorating situation of ordinary people in Zimbabwe and calling for "a civil society movement that both gives voice to those who demand an end to the mayhem that grows out of injustice, poverty, exclusion and violence".

In a statement which follows recent comments by church Leaders in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Archbishops also called for an international day of prayer for Zimbabwe this Sunday in all Christian denominations "as part of a search for increased solidarity and justice for the people of Zimbabwe at home and in the UK."

In their statement Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu warned that without action from the international community "continuing political violence and drift could unleash spiralling communal violence, as has been seen elsewhere in the continent where early warning systems or the international community failed to act in time".

The Archbishops also echoed the recent concerns of church leaders in Zimbabwe of state sponsored violence against ordinary Zimbabweans.

"Faithful men, women and young people who seek better governance in either political or church affairs continue to be beaten, intimidated oroppressed," they said.

Commenting on the continued delays of the announcement of results for the parliamentary and presidential elections the Archbishops said: "The current climate of political intimidation, violence, vote rigging and delay has left the presidential election process without credibility.

"Now the people of Zimbabwe are left even more vulnerable to conflict heaped upon poverty and the threat of national disintegration."

The Archbishops called for renewed efforts by the Government of South Africa, the United Nations and SADC to intervene in the crisis in Zimbabwe and also called for a world wide embargo on weapons sales to Zimbabwe.