JOHANNESBURG, 30 June 2008 (IRIN) - International condemnation of Robert Mugabe's controversial re-election as president of Zimbabwe has now turned to criticism of foreign businesses operating in the country, which are seen as helping to prop up the regime.

Despite the meltdown of the economy, a number of multinational corporations have continued operations in the Southern African country and some have even proposed expansion. Last week mining giant Anglo American announced it would go ahead with a US$400 million plan to open a new platinum mine.

The move sparked international outrage and other large foreign businesses, like UK-based Barclays Bank, were questioned on their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

In response to the furore, Anglo released a statement saying: "Anglo American has been an investor in Zimbabwe for 60 years [and] is deeply concerned about the current political situation, and condemns the violence and human rights abuses that are taking place."

The company said the mining project had been in development since 2003, and "is a long-term investment in a mine which is yet to start production and will not generate revenues for some years."

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DHAKA (Reuters) Jul 1, 2008- Bangladesh has proposed the creation of a fund to fight climate change in densely populated South Asia, which experts say is vulnerable to rising seas, melting glaciers and greater extremes of droughts and floods.

Regional experts on climate change began two days of talks in Dhaka on Tuesday, ahead of a meeting of environment ministers from countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

"We want to find a common stand among the South Asian countries and will raise our voice together against the perils of climate changes," said Raja Devasish Roy, head of the Environment and Forest Ministry of Bangladesh, after opening the experts' meeting.

SAARC, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will adopt a common strategy at the Dhaka meeting, officials said.

Devasish said industrialised countries were the most to blame for global warming and should compensate poorer nations by providing them grants -- not loans -- to fight the effects of climate change.

For the full article, please see http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSDHA23466320080701 \\