Blair in talks over Zimbabwe

Mugabe's clampdown has worried Blair and Mbeki

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has discussed the troubled situation in Zimbabwe with South African President Thabo Mbeki.

New fears have been sparked by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's clampdown on his political opponents.

Downing Street says both Mr Blair and Mr Mbeki, who spoke by telephone on Saturday, are taking the matter very seriously.

We are dealing with the possibility of lives being ruined or actually put at risk

Oliver Letwin
Shadow home secretary

The comments from Mr Blair's official spokesman come as heads of government from the region, including Mr Mbeki and Mr Mugabe, arrive in Malawi for a meeting.

The situation is also expected to be discussed at a meeting of the South African Development Community at the end of the month.

Asylum fears

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin has written to David Blunkett requesting urgent talks on the fate of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe.

The prime minister's spokesman said recent events would affect asylum claims but individual cases would be examined "on merit".

There are concerns that those deported from the UK could be victims of violence because of the new moves against the Zimbabwean government's political opponents.

Mbeki is joining Mugabe and other leaders at a regional conference

Mr Letwin has expressed concern that British immigration officers have made a number of attempts to deport a man who says he is a member of one of Zimbabwe's opposition parties.

Those supporting the application say the man, known only as "Paul", was put on a flight out of the country on Friday even though lawyers had successfully applied for an injunction against his immediate removal.

In the end he was taken off the flight by officials.

The UN High Commission for Refugees has asked the government to suspend deportations to Zimbabwe.

The Home Office has refused to comment on the specific case, but said that they would not deport anyone who had well-founded fears of persecution.

A Home Office spokesman said on Saturday: "We acknowledge that the situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated and are aware of the concerns expressed internationally about events in that country.

"There is not going to be a suspension of removals at this point, but we are continuing to monitor the situation very closely.

Election monitors

New laws in Zimbabwe have given President Mugabe powers to suppress opposition and activists fear violence and intimidation in the run-up to elections.

The UK has been at the heart of efforts to pressure Zimbabwe to allow election monitors.

Opponents speak of a slide into dictatorship

On Saturday President Mugabe said this latest action, and the threat of sanctions, amounted to an attempt by Britain to recolonise his country.

"It's just Britain; Britain is at war with us," he said as he arrived in Malawi for a meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community.

"Blair has his own version of colonialism and we will resist that, I can assure you."

Earlier, Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stanislaus Mudenge attacked the British Government, accusing it of trying to unseat President Mugabe.

Mr Mudenge's attack came at the end of a day of fraught talks in Brussels between a delegation of 18 senior Zimbabwe government ministers and officials, and the EU.

He alleged the UK was swamping Zimbabwe with short wave radio "propaganda" supporting the opposition MDC party, and also providing funding.