Mugabe: No end to occupation

War veterans are destroying white-owned farms

The president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, says there will be no early end to the occupation of white-owned farms by veterans of the country's independence war.

Despite an agreement by both sides to start negotiations on land redistribution, Mr Mugabe said the veterans would not withdraw until the farmers made clear what land they intended to hand over.

However, on a more positive note, the leader of the War Veterans' Association, Chenjerai Hunzvi, said there would be an end to hostilities pending the negotiations.

"We have agreed hostilities should cease and we should work toward a solution," said Mr Hunzvi, after meetings with Mugabe and the farmers.

Farmers' leaders said they were prepared for further talks with the veterans.

Contempt of court

Mr Hunzvi has been threatened with prison unless he ends the occupations.

The High Court found him in contempt of court for inciting illegal occupations of white-owned farms.

The Commercial Farmers Union brought the court case following two months of occupations, in which over 1,000 farms have been targeted.

Mr Hunzvi was found in "clear and wilful contempt" for disobeying a court order last month, and was given until 5 May to instruct his followers to end the illegal occupations or face imprisonment.

Two white farmers and several opposition activists have been killed in recent violence.

The first funerals of slain opposition supporters will take place on Thursday.

At least two white women are also reported to have been raped by war veterans.

No extra police

Mr Hunzvi said he had no power to encourage his supporters to end their actions.

"How can I contradict the order of my president?" he asked, referring to Mr Mugabe's support for the occupations.

Chenjerai Hunzvi says he cannot stop the squatters

Mr Mugabe said that with the squatters' promise to refrain from violence, he saw no reason to send in extra police.

But he did say that the meetings he had mediated between the two sides "created an atmosphere of understanding".

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said he was encouraged by Mr Mugabe's efforts.

But he said he did not believe events in Zimbabwe were yet a matter for the Security Council.

In Washington, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart urged Harare to uphold the law and enforce the court order.

UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said that the continuing violence would be deeply destructive for Zimbabwe and would destabilise the region if allowed to continue.

Britain had to tread carefully or Mr Mugabe may hit back against the farmers, he said.

On the 20th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence, Mr Mugabe described white farmers as "enemies" of the state, whose resistance to land redistribution was the last vestige of British colonialism in Zimbabwe.

He hinted that the parliamentary election may take place next month as expected, but declined to given an exact date.

Families flee

Some white farmers are leaving their farms altogether, while others have sent their families to stay in major cities.

Land facts

Total population: 12.5m

White population: 70,000 (about 0.6%)

70% prime agricultural land white-owned (11m hectares)

1m blacks own 16m hectares - often in drought-prone regions

White-owned farms: 4,500

The squatters have subsequently burned some farms that have been abandoned.

Hundreds of whites have been queuing at the British High Commission to check that their travel documents are up-to-date.

Correspondents say the next few days will be tense as people wait to see if the fatal shootings of two white farmers were isolated incidents.

Farmers say busloads of war veterans are moving into the eastern highlands and the ranch lands northwest of the capital, Harare.

They fear a new wave of farm seizures.