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Zimbabwe blocks UN torture expert Zimbabwe blocks UN torture expert
(31 minutes later)
The UN says Zimbabwe has at the last minute withdrawn an invitation to its special investigator on torture. Zimbabwe's government has withdrawn an invitation to the UN's investigator on torture, Manfred Nowak, hours before he was due to land in the country.
Manfred Nowak was due to start his week-long visit on Wednesday to examine alleged attacks on opposition activists by ruling party supporters. It comes amid claims that supporters of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have launched a campaign of violence.
The United Nations says he was only informed of the decision when he was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe. MDC members say they have been beaten in recent days, despite the two parties being partners in a coalition.
Harare cancelled the visit due to an unanticipated meeting with a southern African regional group, the UN says. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader, withdrew co-operation with the unity government earlier this month.
However, in a statement the UN said it did not consider this a valid reason. He was angry at the jailing of a senior MDC member on terrorism charges that he says are trumped up.
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. The United Nations says Mr Nowak - the special rapporteur on torture - was informed of the cancellation only when he was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe.
"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. The UN said Harare had called off the visit because of an unanticipated meeting with the southern African regional group, Sadc.
On Tuesday, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party said there had been "increased violent" attacks on its members. A Sadc team is due in Harare later to try to resolve the political crisis.
The UN said in a statement that Mr Nowak welcomed "all efforts to resolve the political crisis", but that the Sadc meeting was not a valid reason to cancel his visit.
"Recent allegations that 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 an increase in 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".