CHINESE TROOPS SEEN PATROLLING THE STREETS OF ZIMBABWE

Everyday there is something new with the red menace. Wake the hell up America!

Chinese troops have been seen on the streets of Zimbabwe's third largest city, Mutare, according to local witnesses. They were seen patrolling with Zimbabwean soldiers before and during Tuesday's ill-fated general strike called by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Earlier, 10 Chinese soldiers armed with pistols checked in at the city's Holiday Inn along with 70 Zimbabwean troops.

One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: "We've never seen Chinese soldiers in full regalia on our streets before. The entire delegation took 80 rooms from the hotel, 10 for the Chinese and 70 for Zimbabwean soldiers."

China's support for President Mugabe's regime has been highlighted by the arrival in South Africa of a ship carrying a large cache of weapons destined for Zimbabwe's armed forces. Dock workers in Durban refused to unload it.

At least one reporter has openly speculated that China's crackdown on Tibet is timed to take attention away from its actions in Zimbabwe.

Maybe some of the Chinese government's angst over protests against Tibet are in part a smokescreen effort to hide their efforts to help Mugabe maintain his grip on power. There was an election in Zimbabwe over two weeks ago, and the results have not yet been released, although sources inside the country's government have said that Mugube did not receive enough votes to maintain power and will face a runoff election.

China has secretly shipped tens of thousands of small arms to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, raising fears the consignment has been brought in to crush any attempts to unseat Robert Mugabe from power.

The consignment has cost the regime millions of United States dollars and came through Durban harbour in a Chinese registered vessel, An Yue Juang.

It includes 3 million rounds of ammunition for AK47 rifles, the standard assault weapon for the country's defence forces. There were also 1,500 rocket propelled grenades, a support weapon for the infantry, plus 3,500 mortar bombs.
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