New EU sanctions against Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe increased Western pressure as his party was poised to begin talks with the opposition aimed at ending the country's political stalemate.

US and British diplomats were attacked as they tried to investigate political violence in Zimbabwe and a US Embassy staffer was beaten, said an embassy spokesman.

Aid groups must stop their field work in Zimbabwe, the country’s social welfare minister said tonight.

Zimbabweans braced for a national protest strike today in the wake of a police crackdown on government opponents.

Zimbabwe today said it did not need any international food aid, despite predictions of a humanitarian crisis with up to four million people at risk of famine.