United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee said on Sunday that Robert Mugabe's regime had failed the nation, as Washington prepared to urge the UN to turn up the heat on the veteran leader.

Mugabe is under fresh pressure to step down as the poverty-stricken nation battles a cholera epidemic that has swamped the country. The political deadlock between Mugabe and the opposition over a unity government meanwhile appears no closer to being resolved.

Writing in South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper, McGee slammed Mugabe's regime for failing to meet its most basic obligation and care for its people while the international community propped up the nation with aid.

He said the international community was being forced to lead through Mugabe's "criminal negligence".

"What is the Mugabe regime doing? It is buying hundreds of cars so that every minister and governor can have multiple vehicles. It is buying plasma televisions for judges.

"Instead of spending scarce resources on water purification chemicals that might stop the cholera epidemic, they are manipulating currency to make a personal profit," he wrote.

Almost 750 people have died from a cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, the latest crisis to befall the southern African nation, with galloping inflation last estimated at 231-million percent in July.

Britain accused of "genocidal" attack

Mugabe this week sparked an uproar by claiming that the cholera epidemic had been beaten while his information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu accused Britain of causing the epidemic as part of a "genocidal" attack on the country.

It is expected some five-million people will need food aid in the coming months.

A constitutional amendment set to pave the way toward the formation of a power-sharing leadership was gazetted Saturday, but treated sceptically by parties who said key issues could still see the deal fall apart.

The draft, seen by AFP, appeared to give Mugabe the power to swear in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai even before parliament approves the amendment, a process that could drag on for weeks.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said he expected Tsvangirai to be sworn in "with immediate effect".

Mugabe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has brandished the threat of fresh elections if the bill was not passed and "the collaboration that we envisage is not forthcoming".

On Thursday, McGhee warned that Zimbabwe was becoming a "failed state" and on Tuesday US President George W. Bush said it was time for Mugabe to go.

He was echoing comments made a several world leaders earlier in the week — including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will make a two-day visit to New York on Monday, ahead of a closed-door meeting by the United Nations Security Council where she is expected to urge action against Mugabe.

The security body has failed to act against Mugabe in the past, and the Zimbabwe issue remains on the table as countries have yet to find consensus on what to do about the intransigent leader.

More than 16 000 people infected by cholera

Mugabe — who has ruled since 1980 — won a second round election after rival Tsvangirai pulled out, citing a deadly campaign of violence against his supporters.

Tsvangirai won a first-round presidential vote in March, but failed to win an outright majority although his party won control of parliament for the first time.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed a unity accord three months ago, but have so far failed to agree on how to form a cabinet, leaving government in limbo. The UN, meanwhile, estimates cholera has infected more than 16 000 people.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Washington had been talking to Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour South Africa and other Security Council members about how to "start a process that will bring an end to the tragedy that is unfolding in Zimbabwe".

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, proposed on Thursday that Zimbabwe's neighbors — particularly South Africa — close their borders with the country.

AFP