The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped all charges against gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, brought after his attempted arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tatchell, 47, had been charged with using threatening words and behaviour and assaulting a police officer when he tried to carry out a citizen's arrest on President Mugabe during his visit to London in October.

At a hearing at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court, central London, the CPS said there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.

The incident happened on 30 October when Mr Tatchell and members of his OutRage! pressure group stopped the African leader's car outside a hotel in Buckingham Gates to protest about the alleged torture of two Zimbabwean journalists.

Two other men, Chris Morris, 20, and Alistair Williams, 31, who were charged with public order offences which allegedly took place during the same incident, also had all charges dropped against them.

After the hearing, Mr Tatchell said: "It is a vindication of a citizen's arrest on President Mugabe on charges of torture."

He added: "If Mugabe returned to Britain we will arrest him again. Torture is a crime under Britain and international law."