Mugabe trial bid launched in Paris

Mugabe trial bid launched in Paris

Peter Tatchell and President Mugabe are old adversaries

British human rights activist Peter Tatchell has formally launched a bid to put Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe on trial in Paris for alleged torture.

Mr Tatchell filed his formal complaint with the French authorities just as President Mugabe arrived in Paris to attend a Franco-Africa summit.

The campaigner is demanding the French authorities arrest and detain President Mugabe under the country's anti-torture legislation.

Despite the protest, the chances of any legal action being taken by the French are said to be remote.

Small protest

France has no history of attempting to prosecute foreign leaders, and it was persuasion by French President Chirac which ensured the leader of Zimbabwe was present for the Paris meeting.

European governments reluctantly agreed to allow the visit, despite an EU travel ban in protest at human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

The fear was that if President Mugabe did not attend, many other African leaders would boycott the event.

A small protest accompanied Mr Tatchell's representation to a French judge at the Palais de Justice on Wednesday morning.

President Mugabe branded homosexuals "worse than pigs or dogs"

Mr Tatchell's stance is supported by the Conservatives, who have urged the UK Government to support the arrest of President Mugabe.

Mr Tatchell said: "Even if I do not succeed in getting a warrant, making this application will help highlight the use of torture by the Mugabe regime.

"It will also build international pressure for legal reforms to end immunity for heads of state and other serving government officials.

Beaten

"My endeavours are, I hope, the beginning of a global campaign to enforce international human rights laws and to put on trial all tyrants and torturers," said Mr Tatchell, a gay rights campaigner who has criticised Mr Mugabe's record of homophobic statements.

Several years ago Mr Mugabe branded homosexuals "worse than pigs or dogs".

Tory foreign affairs spokesman Alan Duncan praised Mr Tatchell's efforts to draw attention to the case.

"The French are putting their own selfish interests ahead of human rights," he said.

He described the country's invitation to Mr Mugabe as a "complete moral outrage".

Letter

Mr Tatchell previously tried to carry out a citizen's arrest on him in Brussels.

He ended up in the gutter, beaten by presidential bodyguards.

This time he filed an action under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which France has signed.

Mr Tatchell is also leading demonstrations outside the French summit, which will include Zimbabwean exiles.

In a letter to the UK Government, shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said there were "genuine concerns" the French Government would ride roughshod over its international legal responsibilities.

Writing to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, he added: "I urge you not only to monitor, but to lend support to any attempt to arrest Robert Mugabe."