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UK announces £5m aid for Zimbabwe UK announces £5m aid for Zimbabwe
(about 2 hours later)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced an extra £5m ($8m) of transitional aid to Zimbabwe. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced an extra £5m ($8m) of aid to Zimbabwe after meeting his Zimbabwean counterpart Morgan Tsvangirai.
He was speaking after meeting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. This takes the total this year to £60m ($98m) but Mr Brown said more money would only come after further reform.
Mr Brown said the aid would go through aid agencies, not the government in which Mr Tsvangirai shares power with President Robert Mugabe. He also said the aid would go through aid agencies, not the government in which Mr Tsvangirai shares power with President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe says it needs $8bn (£4.9bn) to revive the economy but pledges during Mr Tsvangirai's tour of Europe and the US have fallen far short of that sum. Zimbabwe says it needs $8bn (£4.9bn) to revive its shattered economy.
Many donors are still wary of sending money which could be misused by Mr Mugabe and his allies. Mr Tsvangirai has been on a tour of Europe and the US to ask for increased funding but many donors are still wary of sending money which could be misused by Mr Mugabe and his allies.
Under Mr Mugabe, relations between the UK and its former colony have become severely strained.
'Irreversible change''Irreversible change'
Some £4m ($6.5m) of the new money is to be channelled into food aid and agriculture, with the rest towards buying text books for Zimbabwean schools.Some £4m ($6.5m) of the new money is to be channelled into food aid and agriculture, with the rest towards buying text books for Zimbabwean schools.
Morgan Tsvangirai said Zimbabweans were positive about overcoming meltdownMorgan Tsvangirai said Zimbabweans were positive about overcoming meltdown
Mr Brown said it would bring British transitional aid for Zimbabwe this year to a total of £60m ($98m).
At their joint news conference in London, Mr Tsvangirai defended his decision to share power with President Mugabe in February.At their joint news conference in London, Mr Tsvangirai defended his decision to share power with President Mugabe in February.
Mr Tsvangirai said "irreversible change was now taking place in Zimbabwe towards a transition to democracy and elections".Mr Tsvangirai said "irreversible change was now taking place in Zimbabwe towards a transition to democracy and elections".
He had been expected to ask Mr Brown to lift sanctions against Mr Mugabe and his officials. These include a travel ban and assets freeze.
Mr Brown said it was the first time a British and a Zimbabwean prime minister had stood together in Downing Street for 25 years.Mr Brown said it was the first time a British and a Zimbabwean prime minister had stood together in Downing Street for 25 years.
"I pay tribute today to your courage, your determination, your strength of character and your fortitude in this tragedy," he said."I pay tribute today to your courage, your determination, your strength of character and your fortitude in this tragedy," he said.
The British premier added: "There are great signs of progress, a budget and economic plan are in place, schools are reopening, children are once again filling the classrooms.The British premier added: "There are great signs of progress, a budget and economic plan are in place, schools are reopening, children are once again filling the classrooms.
BBC ban lifted?BBC ban lifted?
"As a result of the progress, we will increase our support to help Zimbabwe move from mere survival towards a genuine recovery.""As a result of the progress, we will increase our support to help Zimbabwe move from mere survival towards a genuine recovery."
ZIMBABWE AID PLEDGES Australia: $6.4m (£4.7m)World Bank: $22m (£14.4m)African nations: $650m (£400m)US: $73m (£44m)Germany: $35m (£21m)UK: $98m (£60m)Zimbabwe needs: $8bn (£4.9bn) Viewpoint: Ambiguous trip Slideshow: Zimbabwe's orphans ZIMBABWE AID PLEDGES Australia: $6.4m (£4.7m)World Bank: $22m (£14.4m)African nations: $650m (£400m)US: $73m (£44m)Germany: $35m (£21m)UK: $98m (£60m)Zimbabwe needs: $8bn (£4.9bn) href="/2/hi/africa/8112662.stm">'Why I booed Morgan Tsvangirai' class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8112533.stm">Viewpoint: Ambiguous trip Slideshow: Zimbabwe's orphans
However, correspondents say that the money is a drop in the ocean compared to Zimbabwe's needs. But he said that further money would only be forthcoming if "the reform programme on the ground gains momentum".
Up to half the population - some four million people - are believed to need food aid after years of economic meltdown. He called for more economic reforms, an improvement in human rights, media freedom, the scrapping of repressive laws and an end to the invasion of white-owned farms, reports the Reuters news agency.
Mr Tsvangirai had been expected to ask Mr Brown to lift sanctions against Mr Mugabe and his officials but there was no change in this stance. These include a travel ban and assets freeze.
Up to half the population - some four million people - is believed to need food aid after years of economic meltdown.
Mr Tsvangirai also told the news conference that he hoped the ban on the BBC operating in Zimbabwe would be rescinded soon.Mr Tsvangirai also told the news conference that he hoped the ban on the BBC operating in Zimbabwe would be rescinded soon.
He said media reforms were being implemented and that the BBC should "look forward to coming to operate in Zimbabwe openly, and not secretly".He said media reforms were being implemented and that the BBC should "look forward to coming to operate in Zimbabwe openly, and not secretly".
Last week, Amnesty International said that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe remained "precarious" despite the power-sharing government.Last week, Amnesty International said that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe remained "precarious" despite the power-sharing government.
Opposition and civil rights activists continue to be arrested by the security forces, who are still largely controlled by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. Opposition and civil rights activists continue to be arrested by the security forces, which are still largely controlled by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
On Saturday, Zimbabwe's prime minister was booed by Zimbabwean exiles in London when he urged them to return to the country.On Saturday, Zimbabwe's prime minister was booed by Zimbabwean exiles in London when he urged them to return to the country.
Many were bitter that, following years of outspoken opposition to the Zimbabwe government, he had decided to join it and offer public support to Mr Mugabe.Many were bitter that, following years of outspoken opposition to the Zimbabwe government, he had decided to join it and offer public support to Mr Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai is due to round off his visit to Europe and the US - his first official tour since becoming prime minister - with a stop in Paris on Wednesday before returning home.Mr Tsvangirai is due to round off his visit to Europe and the US - his first official tour since becoming prime minister - with a stop in Paris on Wednesday before returning home.