Zimbabwe's President reassures farmers

The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, has said his government will consult farmers and foreign aid donors about its controversial plans to seize mainly white-owned farms and redistribute the land to black people.

He told a meeting of state and private sector leaders that the goverment remained committed to land reform but would target derelict land and absentee landlords first.

Analysts say Mr Mugabe's comments were a signal that he's taking notice of local and international critics who say the compulsory purchase of the farms will ruin the country's economy.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service