Zimbabwe official's 'regret' over killings

A white farmer has been killed in squatter violence

Zimbabwe's High Commissioner in London has spoken of his regret that a white farmer was killed in escalating violence by squatters on white-owned farms.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had ordered talks with the High Commissioner after the abduction and shooting of the farmer in violence that is being blamed on supporters of President Robert Mugabe.

Speaking shortly after the discussions, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told the BBC: "Obviously whenever there is violence, or whenever deaths occur, this is not something that anybody enjoys. It is something that everyone regrets.

Peter Hain: Grave concerns

"When the current demonstrations started two months ago, it was very clear that they had to be peaceful demonstrations, that provocation should be avoided on both sides.

"It is unfortunate that in this particular incidence, this has occurred and it is something everyone will regret."

BBC political correspondent Guto Hari described the talks as "frank exchange of views of views on both sides".

But he expressed doubts that Foreign Office officials would have been satisfied with the High Commissioner's assertions that the situation remained peaceful.

Mr Hain, speaking after the 20 minute discussion, said he had expressed "grave concerns" over the situation.

'Robust and firm'

"One of the reasons why we have been so robust and firm with the message we have given from the Foreign Office is that it could easily have been foreseen that this situation might happen with illegal squatting, with violence and intimidation,"

"It was all too predictable, I'm afraid, and that is why it is imperative that President Mugabe gets a grip," he added.

Prior to the discussions, Tory MP Gerald Howarth called for "more draconian concerted action" against Zimbabwe as the crisis escalates.

He said: "What is going on is utterly intolerable. If a white government had behaved in that fashion the United Nations would have been in permanent session and a task force would have been assembled to read them the Riot Act."

In the worst violence yet, farmer David Stevens was abducted near Macheke, 75 miles east of Harare, the capital, and driven into the bush where he was shot dead.

Morgan Tsvangirai addressed a rally in London

Commercial Farmers Union officials said Mr Stevens, who was his late 40s, was the first white farmer killed in a tense stand-off between landowners and squatters backed by President Robert Mugabe's ruling party.

Four of the victim's neighbours, who went to his assistance after he was confronted by squatters on Saturday, were also abducted and are still missing.

A fifth neighbour, John Osborne, escaped and is being treated in a hospital in the provincial centre of Marondera.

London rally

On Saturday, Zimbabweans living in Britain were urged to return home to take part in the struggle against President Robert Mugabe as tensions over land in the southern African country remained high.

At an emotional rally in London, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mr Mugabe had changed from being a liberation hero to become a dictator who had led the country into "lawlessness and anarchy".

But he told the audience of more than 1,000 largely white Zimbabweans: "We want you to participate in the political processes of your own country. We want you to come back home."