The African Union's reputationsuffered a setback during the past week when its leaders faltered in the faceof Robert Mugabe's blunt challenge to democratic norms in Zimbabwe. But whilethe organization may be weakened, VOA correspondent Peter Heinlein reportsthere is cause for hope in the expressions of dissent by a small, butincreasingly vocal, group of African leaders determined to distance themselvesfrom the continent's authoritarian despots.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses his supporters at Harare Airport, 04 Jul 2008

U.N. Deputy Secretary-General AshaRose Migiro called this a "moment of truth" for Africa's leaders. But if itwas, the truth was unpleasant.

In an address to a pre-summitsession, Migiro, a former Tanzanian foreign minister, described the failure ofdemocracy in Zimbabwe as the single greatest challenge to stability in southernAfrica.

On the summit sidelines, America'stop diplomat for Africa Jendayi Frazier described Robert Mugabe's claim to asixth term as Zimbabwe's president "an open expression of tyranny."She said the world would be watching to see how Africa's leaders wouldrespond.

The British Minister Mark MallochBrown bluntly told reporters "Mr. Mugabe has to go."

But these expressions ofinternational outrage seemed not to matter. When Mr. Mugabe arrived at thesummit hall, he was warmly greeted by the host, Egyptian President HosniMubarak, whose 27 years in office is one less than Mr. Mugabe's 28.

Africa's longest serving head ofstate at 41 years in office, Gabon's Omar Bongo hailed his Zimbabwean colleagueas a hero. Muammar Gaddafi, whose 39years in office makes him second in seniority among Africa's leaders, was alsothere to join the welcome.

It only underscored the point that afair percentage of Africa's heads of state are strongmen who, one way oranother, have installed themselves as leaders for life.

And Mr. Mugabe, through hisspokesman George Charamba, made clear to reporters that he couldn't care lesswhat the West thinks of his election.

Spokesman for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, George Charamba

"They can go and hang. They cango and hang a thousand times. They've no claim on Zimbabwe at all, and that'sexactly the issue," he said.

Charamba described Zimbabwe'spresidential vote as an internal affair, and none of the outside world'sbusiness.

"The way out is the way definedby the Zimbabwe people free from outside interference, and that is exactly whatwill resolve the matter," he added.

And Africa's leaders, by and large,seemed to agree. After what was described as a heated closed door debate, theleaders issued a mild statement with no rebuke.

Diplomats attending the session sayNigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua confronted Mr. Mugabe over the conduct ofhis election, but that the Zimbabwean leader replied that Nigeria's electionwas even dirtier.

Political analyst Medhane Tadesse ofAddis Ababa's Center for Policy Research and Dialogue says that kind ofcriticism resonates with many African leaders.

"Most of the leaders in Africalook at Zimbabwe like in a mirror their own face, which means they are notprepared to seriously pressurize Zimbabwe and President Mugabe," heexplained. "So on the one hand youhave the advancement of democratic principles. On the other hand the interestand survival instinct of political leaders doesn't cope with those advancedprinciples. I see that contradiction."

Medhane concludes that Africa'sauthoritarian rulers will not change their anti-democratic ways unless theinternational community steps in and forces them to do so.

"There is not an internationalmechanism to enforce democratic elections, which means every aspect andmechanism of change in Africa, and political transition is being shutdown," he added. "So thereneeds to be an international mechanism to enforce democratic elections and democraticelection should be rewarded while undemocratic elections should pay theconsequences. Unless that is done, there is not much Africa can do."

In the meantime, Africa's optimistspoint to a ray of hope.  Word frominside the summit hall was that a small, but vocal minority of African leadersjoined the international chorus of outrage at Mr. Mugabe's assault ondemocracy.

The vice-president of neighboringBotswana, Mompati Merafhe told the gathering Zimbabwe's election does notconfer legitimacy on Mr. Mugabe. He urged Zimbabwe's suspension from theAfrican Union and the regional grouping of southern African nations (SADC).

The leaders of Nigeria, Liberia,Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Uganda also expressed support foraction against the Mugabe government.

Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasahad been expected to be a strong voice favoring a censure of Mr. Mugabe, but hewas struck down by a stroke shortly after arriving at the summit site, and didnot attend.