The standoff continues
Britain has called on the European Union to put pressure on Zimbabwe to end the occupation of hundreds of white-run farms by supporters of President Robert Mugabe. Britain also wants Zimbabwe to permit the EU to monitor elections due to take place next month. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who is attending an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, said that Britain was looking for a strong declaration that there must be a return to the rule of law and an end to the illegal occupation of the farms.
Farmers in Zimbabwe are due to take the country's police to court today over their refusal to evict thousands of squatters from their land. More than 800 farms have been seized by the black militants who are backed by Robert Mugabe. The courts in Zimbabwe ordered the police to evict the squatters when the mass invasions began in February. But, the police refused to enforce the court order, describing the atmosphere in the country as a politically charged powder keg ready to explode.
