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| Zimbabwe blocks UN torture expert | Zimbabwe blocks UN torture expert |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UN says Zimbabwe has at the last minute withdrawn an invitation to its special investigator on torture. | The UN says Zimbabwe has at the last minute withdrawn an invitation to its special investigator on torture. |
| Manfred Nowak was due to start his week-long visit on Wednesday to examine alleged attacks on opposition activists by ruling party supporters. | Manfred Nowak was due to start his week-long visit on Wednesday to examine alleged attacks on opposition activists by ruling party supporters. |
| The United Nations says he was only informed of the decision when he was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe. | The United Nations says he was only informed of the decision when he was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe. |
| Harare cancelled the visit due to an unanticipated meeting with a southern African regional group, the UN says. | Harare cancelled the visit due to an unanticipated meeting with a southern African regional group, the UN says. |
| However, in a statement the UN said it did not consider this a valid reason. | However, in a statement the UN said it did not consider this a valid reason. |
| A team from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) is due in Harare to try to resolve a political crisis between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. | A team from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) is due in Harare to try to resolve a political crisis between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. |
| Long-time opposition leader Mr Tsvangirai joined a unity government with Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party in February, but withdrew co-operation earlier this month accusing Zanu-PF of human rights violations and failing to honour agreements. | |
| Urgency 'highlighted' | Urgency 'highlighted' |
| In its statement on Wednesday, the UN said Mr Nowak - the UN Special Rapporteur on torture - welcomed "all efforts to resolve the political crisis" in Zimbabwe, but did not consider it a valid reason to cancel his visit. | In its statement on Wednesday, the UN said Mr Nowak - the UN Special Rapporteur on torture - welcomed "all efforts to resolve the political crisis" in Zimbabwe, but did not consider it a valid reason to cancel his visit. |
| "Recent allegations that [opposition] MDC supporters and human rights defenders have been arrested, harassed and intimidated during the past few days, highlight the urgency of objective fact-finding by an independent UN expert," the UN said. | "Recent allegations that [opposition] MDC supporters and human rights defenders have been arrested, harassed and intimidated during the past few days, highlight the urgency of objective fact-finding by an independent UN expert," the UN said. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party said there had been "increased violent" attacks on its members. | On Tuesday, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party said there had been "increased violent" attacks on its members. |
| Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said a senior official had been stopped and beaten by Zanu-PF supporters on Tuesday morning. Days earlier, an MDC residence was raided by police. | Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said a senior official had been stopped and beaten by Zanu-PF supporters on Tuesday morning. Days earlier, an MDC residence was raided by police. |
| Zanu-PF has described the comments as "cheap propaganda". | Zanu-PF has described the comments as "cheap propaganda". |