British fury as France invites Mugabe to Paris conference

British officials have reacted with outrage to plans by France to invite Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean President, to a Franco-African summit in Paris.

The row threatens to deepen the already widening rift between Britain and France over war against Iraq. Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac, the French President, called off their last bilateral meeting amid tensions over Europe, and are to meet again on 4 February. But relations may be put under fresh strain by a combination of differences over Zimbabwe, Iraq, and the relaunch of the Franco-German axis.

Mr Mugabe is banned from travelling to the European Union, under a sanctions package imposed by EU member states last year. But the ban ends on 18 February, the day before African leaders arrive in the French capital for three days of talks.

Clare Short, the Secretary of State for International Development, told MPs it would be "disgraceful" if the Zimbabwean leader was invited. In Harare, the Zimbabwean government said it had a signed letter from Mr Chirac inviting Mr Mugabe.

Angry ministers, who have urged the English cricket team to abandon a planned match in Zimbabwe, have repeatedly condemned human rights violations by the Mugabe regime.

Europe's foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to debate renewing the EU's package of sanctions. But because unanimous agreement is required, Britain could be forced to agree to a one-off visit in return for French backing for a renewal of the sanctions. Such a compromise would infuriate London, which believes this would hand a big propaganda boost to Mr Mugabe.

Mr Blair sidestepped Tory challenges in the Commons, saying "no agreement" had been reached on whether to allow Mr Mugabe's visit. His official spokesman said: "This is a live issue. It will obviously be discussed on Monday. There's been no formal proposal yet from the French government and I'm not going to pre-empt our government's position."

Willard Chiwewe, permanent secretary in the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Independent: "We had a signed letter from President Chirac and we are attending the summit. It's a French-convened summit for African leaders and President Robert Mugabe is an African leader, as you must know." Asked how they squared the invitation with the EU sanctions, he said: "That is not our problem. All we know is we were invited and we accepted. This is a summit for Africans and we are Africans."

The EU imposed a travel ban on Zimbabwe's political leadership last year amid the violence of the presidential elections. It can be waived only to allow attendance at meetings convened by international bodies such as the UN or Interpol.

Michael Ancram, the shadow Foreign Secretary, said: "It is bad enough Mugabe and his thugs can attend UN-sponsored meetings in Europe, but to be personally invited by the President of France is outrageous."

He accused the Government of preparing for a "fudge" on the issue. "How can they do this?" he asked. "This would be double standards of the most despicable, cynical and cowardly kind. In the face of Mugabe's evil there can be no compromise and no appeasement."

Menzies Campbell MP, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "To allow Mr Mugabe to strut his stuff in Paris would be absolutely unacceptable. At a time when his country is in freefall, when millions are facing starvation, and when human rights are systematically flouted, there should be no welcome for Mr Mugabe anywhere in the European Union."

The proposed invitation to Mr Mugabe was revealed by the French embassy in London. But in Paris one official insisted: "No invitation has been issued. No decision has been made. It's very unlikely Mr Mugabe will be invited."