Zimbabwe tops UN asylum list

The UN refugee agency says Zimbabweans top the list of people seeking asylum abroad.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in its latest report that 158,200 Zimbabweans sought asylum last year, fleeing political and economic turmoil and uncertainties over a fragile coalition government. By comparison, about 48,600 people from Myanmar, also known as Burma, applied for asylum.

They were followed by 39,000 Afghans, 39,200 Colombians and 37,900 Somalis. The report, available in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, yesterday, says nine out of 10 Zimbabwean asylum seekers sought refuge in South Africa.