Zimbabwe rejects Commonwealth move

Mugabe: Zimbabwe says Commonwealth move is outrageous

LONDON, England -- Zimbabwe has reacted angrily to a proposed visit by Commonwealth ministers to examine reports of intimidation of journalists and the judiciary.

Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon announced on Tuesday plans to send the foreign ministers of Australia, Barbados and Nigeria to Zimbabwe for a meeting with President Robert Mugabe.

But Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister Stan Mudenge told a news conference that the proposed visit was "outrageous" and had been "irregularly sponsored" by Britain, which Zimbabwe believes is leading an international campaign to isolate it.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Zimbabwe risked isolating itself within the Commonwealth.

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He said: "If Zimbabwe now refuses the offer of dialogue so that we can express those concerns and so we can hear what Zimbabwe has to say for itself, then it is putting itself into a very serious position in the Commonwealth."

Cook stopped short of threatening the southern African state with suspension from the Commonwealth, a group of mainly ex-British colonies.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon also declined to hint at future suspension. "That would be jumping the hurdles in advance. We've got a lot to talk about before we ever reach that stage," he said.

Britain, the colonial power in what was then Rhodesia until President Robert Mugabe swept to power in 1980, has criticised the violent take-over of white-owned farms during the last year.

Mugabe insists the occupations are redressing inequalities imposed by colonial masters and accuses Britain of trying to poison Zimbabwe's international relations.

Meanwhile, farmers in Zimbabwe are meeting to discuss the continuing land seizures amid signs of a split in their ranks.

A group has emerged within the country's Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) calling for a compromise with Mugabe.

The group believes that court actions against him have hardened his attitude to the policy.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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