South Africa to act over land seizures

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, finally acknowledged yesterday that there was a need to respond "vigorously" to the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe involving the eviction of white farmers.

He said he would discuss the land seizures with John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, which currently chairs the Commonwealth.

Mr Mbeki has been under increasing pressure to take action before the opening of the Earth Summit in Johannesburg on Monday. Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, is scheduled to attend and there are fears he may hijack the agenda to defend land seizures.

Mr Mbeki said: "I agree with Mr Howard that the troika of the Commonwealth [South Africa, Nigeria and Australia] needs to address vigorously the present state of affairs in Zimbabwe."

But his deputy foreign minister denied American claims that South Africa was working with neighbouring countries and the US to oust Mr Mugabe.