29 Oct 2009

The United Nations special rapporteur on torture is barred entry to Zimbabwe, where he was due to examine reports on the arrest and intimidation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party members.

"The immigration officials told us you are not allowed to go any further. It's a little bizarre because I do have a written invitation from the Prime Minister who wants to see me tomorrow at 10:00 am," Nowak told AFP on Wednesday.

Immigration officials refused to allow Nowak through, saying he had no security clearance.

Earlier on Monday, the Zimbabwe government said it has withdrawn its invitation for Nowak's eight-day mission.

Nowak was also invited in February by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa to Harare after reports of widespread torture by Mugabe's security forces.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe's ZANU-PF have recently been trading accusations.

ZANU-PF blames the MDC for the slow progress of the power-sharing government, saying Tsvangirai should appeal for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his inner circle by Western governments.

The UN human rights office has highlighted the urgency of the fact-finding mission, as MDC reports of members being arrested and intimidated by the ZANU-PF.

presstv