Britain asks UN to send investigators into Zimbabwe

Britain will try high risk diplomacy by demanding that the Human Rights Council of the United Nations sends a team of investigators into Zimbabwe to gather evidence on the ground about the brutality of Robert Mugabe's regime.

The decision, agreed yesterday by Tony Blair and the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, is a sign of Whitehall's confidence that patience with Mugabe across Africa, and particularly in South Africa, is wearing thin. Mr Mugabe has responded to every British criticism of his government by reminding his followers of Britain's past as Africa's colonial master - a line which British ministers frankly admit has resonated with other black Africa leaders.

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The same note of defiance was struck again yesterday as Mr Mugabe told Western nations to "go hang" after the barrage of criticism that followed the heavy beatings of opposition leaders this week.

Mr Mugabe made his remarks as regional African leaders, apparently impatient with Mr Mugabe's intransigence, deployed the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to try and encourage internal dialogue to resolve the long-running economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. Mr Kikwete made an unscheduled visit to Zimbabwe on behalf of regional leaders who are worried about the ever deteriorating situation in the country. "I came to brief the President on my visit to Europe and discussions that always come up on the situation in Zimbabwe. There are so many issues we discussed and we agreed on the way forward on a number of issues," was all Mr Kikwete would say.

He then left Mr Mugabe to dominate the press conference with his anti-Western tirades.

"It's the West as usual... when they criticise the government trying to prevent violence and punish the perpetrators of that violence, we take the position that they can go hang," Mr Mugabe said yesterday.

His statement was made as Zimbabwe police said three officers were badly hurt late on Tuesday when suspected opposition supporters petrol bombed a police station in a Harare suburb, leaving their house in flames. They said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party's "orgy of violence was spreading" in the country.

"We believe that the attacks are assuming a militia-type of form," a police spokesman, Wayne Bvudzijena, said as state television showed the badly burnt officers in hospital.

The MDC strongly denied the accusations and said that they were part of efforts by the Mugabe regime to portray itself as the victim.

Speaking in London, Mrs Beckett said yesterday: "I am sorry to say that in many parts of Africa, Mugabe is viewed as a kind of hero of the revolution, and if it comes to a choice between the hero of the revolution and the colonial oppressor, they know whose side to be on."

The Human Rights Council, which is currently meeting in Geneva, will be asked to put together a team of investigators to visit Zimbabwe, although it is recognised that there is a strong chance that they will be refused entry.

The council will also be asked to pass a resolution condemning this week's attack on the opposition party, and Britain will ask the EU to add the names of perpetrators of the violence to the lengthening list of senior Zimbabweans banned from Europe.