To its credit the African Union has adopted a “no undemocratically elected leaders" policy.

I don’t understand this rigged election business.

If Robert Mugabe is the only candidate in the Zimbabwe elections how can he only get 85% of the vote?

Surely he’s disappointed he’s not even achieved 100% - talk about an open goal.

It seems at long last the UK is urging the African Union to unseat Mugabe “by whatever means”. 4,000 cholera deaths later.

This is a sharp contrast to the rather flat-footed policies in Burma where nearly 100,000 people died a year ago following Cyclone Nargis, due to no effective aid influx.

Three warships from USA, France and UK sat offshore with barely 3 helicopters providing aid.

With the return of the UN envoy to Burma to help develop democracy a further 2,100 political prisoners are jailed.

Even in North Korea we may be witnessing the first defrosting of relations with the USA as a rogue nuclear state following the destruction of the cooling towers at Yongbyong and Obama election.

Don’t hold your breath: North Korea always seems determined to make small concessions for food and fuel aid. No change there unless China exerts pressure,and the same pressure is required for Burma.

No-one would expect perfect human rights in China but Burma and North Korea are rogue states that only China can effectively remove.

Kofi Annan the former Secretary General of the UNH made the point absolutely clear: “The sovereignty of states must no longer be used as a shield for gross violation of human rights”.

Apt for a handful of Asian nations, a majority of African nations and perhaps all the more apt at the moment given the ICC requirement for Israeli generals to explain the shelling of civilians in Gaza and use of white phosphorous - a form of napalm.

Make no mistake greater democracy means both peace and wealth: South Korea lifted itself out of military dictatorship through the 1970’s with a GDP equal to Ghana and is now on a par with Portugal and one of the most advanced technological societies.

As with East Germany, the opening of North Korea and reunification across Korea will also impact on growth for but a few short years with China's, Japan's and South Korea's support.

For Africa, Zimbabwe is the first step for a freer and democratic Africa with Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Congo far smaller hurdles to peace and liberty.

Then the only issue will be how effectively can aid be provided against the UNMDG.