Cook prioritises Zimbabwe crisis

Political violence continues unabated

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has cancelled a trip to Iran partly to concentrate on the crisis in Zimbabwe, the Foreign Office has said.

He had been due to visit Iran from 8-9 May but has postponed the trip to 4-5 July.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that Britain wanted to avoid visiting Iran before election results there had been ratified, but he added: "It's also because Robin Cook is very occupied with Zimbabwe."

"It's a major item on his daily agenda."

The Foreign Office said it could not divulge how large a part Zimbabwe was playing in Mr Cook's workload but it is believed to be substantial.

Mr Cook has condemned plans by President Robert Mugabe to allow white-owned farms to be seized in Zimbabwe without compensation.

'Step backwards'

On Saturday Zimbabwe justice minister Emmerson Mnangawa said that legal measures would be in place within 10 days to allow land to be taken and redistributed.

Mr Cook said in a statement the move could dissuade nations, including Britain, from aiding land reform.

"The confiscation of farms without compensation would be a big step backwards," he said.

Robin Cook wants fair land reform

"There can be no justification for this. This cannot be a way to solve the genuine problems of land reform."

Britain has offered to fund land reform in Zimbabwe because of its position as a former colonial power.

The move is aimed at seeking an end to the political violence which saw supporters of Mr Mugabe invade white farmers' land, demanding redistribution and killing farmers and political opponents.

"I have said all along that Britain would be prepared to fund a fair land reform programme within the rule of law," said Mr Cook.

'Illegal occupations'

"If it takes this step the government of Zimbabwe will make it impossible for those who want to help with land reform to do so.

"All those in Zimbabwe concerned with this issue know from what I have told them that Britain is doing all it can to pursue the twin objectives of fair land reform without the threat of illegal occupations and fair elections free from intimidation and violence."

His comments came as the Foreign Office confirmed that contingency plans to evacuate an estimated 20,000 Europeans from Zimbabwe had been discussed with other European Union countries.

Warning of political violence

A spokeswoman played down suggestions that an imminent evacuation was being organised. But according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, the EU countries have mapped out escape routes through Mozambique or South Africa if the violence intensifies.

The paper said messages would be broadcast on radio stations including the BBC World Service, telling European nationals to assemble in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare. Armed convoys would then escort them to safety.

On Tuesday Mr Cook will attend a meeting of the Commonwealth ministerial action group in London which will discuss the worsening violence in Zimbabwe.

Latest figures say more than 1,100 farms have been occupied by veterans of the country's independence war.

The occupations began in February when Mr Mugabe suffered defeat at the hands of voters, rejecting moves that would have allowed seizure of farms without compensation.

A constitutional change was later pushed through the country's parliament.