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| Australia pledges aid to Zimbabwe | Australia pledges aid to Zimbabwe |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia says it will provide funding to Zimbabwe, the first Western country to announce aid to the government since the start of power-sharing last month. | Australia says it will provide funding to Zimbabwe, the first Western country to announce aid to the government since the start of power-sharing last month. |
| Canberra is providing $6.4m (A$10m; £4.7m) in direct aid to restore basic water, sanitation and health services. | Canberra is providing $6.4m (A$10m; £4.7m) in direct aid to restore basic water, sanitation and health services. |
| But Australia was "under no illusions about the fragility of the political situation," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement. | But Australia was "under no illusions about the fragility of the political situation," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement. |
| Australia currently channels humanitarian help through aid agencies. | Australia currently channels humanitarian help through aid agencies. |
| Under Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister of a new unity government in February. | Under Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister of a new unity government in February. |
| President Robert Mugabe remains in office. | President Robert Mugabe remains in office. |
| Analysts say the new government will be heavily dependent on Western donors and investors to rescue Zimbabwe's crippled economy. | Analysts say the new government will be heavily dependent on Western donors and investors to rescue Zimbabwe's crippled economy. |
| The US and UK governments have said they will only restore aid to Zimbabwe when they see evidence of genuine power-sharing between the rival parties. |