Anti-Mugabe protest at Lord’s Test

EXILED victims of President Robert Mugabe’s regime staged a noisy protest at Lord’s cricket ground as play began in the first match of the England-Zimbabwe cricket Test series.

Dozens of demonstrators played and sang in the rain while waving placards outside the north London ground yesterday. Nearly 100 MPs have accused the England and Wales Cricket Board of “putting profit before principle” by allowing the tour to go ahead.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, leader of the Stop The Tour protest campaign, has said his group felt under no obligation to “show restraint”, as encouraged by the MCC cricket board.

And despite a ban on protests inside the ground, one campaigner was escorted off the pitch after walking on waving a banner saying “Bowl out killer Mugabe”.

Mr Tatchell said the woman, in her 30s and from London, had been arrested and taken to Marylebone police station after reaching the outfield. A man was also led off as he stepped onto the pitch. Fellow protesters got on board an open-top bus and were aiming to deliver a letter to the Zimbabwean Embassy, calling for an end to state-sponsored political violence.

A small police presence was visible as protesters made their message with music and dance.