Canada PM thought Mugabe post was 'bad joke'

GENEVA (AP):

 Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he first thought the appointment of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe as a "goodwill ambassador" for the World Health Organisation (WHO) was a "bad April Fool's joke."

Trudeau told reporters he was dismayed by the choice of 93-year-old Mugabe, who has long faced United States sanctions over his government's human rights abuses, as well as criticism at home for going overseas for medical treatment.

Trudeau calls the WHO appointment "absolutely unacceptable, absolutely inconceivable" and says Canada's diplomats "are busy making that very, very clear to the international community."

WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus now says he is "rethinking" his decision and will issue a statement "as soon as possible."