Britain denies spying allegations

Zimbabwe has accused Britain of using spies disguised as environmentalists, journalists and lawyers in an international campaign to isolate and discredit the Government.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper, a Government mouthpiece, claimed British-sponsored "espionage teams" were sent on a mission to discredit Zimbabwe.

It said they attempted to question state mining and forestry officials for data on Zimbabwe's economic activity in the Congo in an effort to tar the Government as corrupt. Zimbabwe has 11,000 troops supporting Congo in its civil war with rebels.

State television had earlier reported British-based members of the environmental group Global Witness were in Zimbabwe gathering information on logging contracts and other Zimbabwean business interests in the Congo.

Global Witness confirmed two of its members attended a private conference in the resort of Victoria Falls earlier this month on the effects of conflict on the environment, including deforestation in Congo.

The Herald quoted unnamed Zimbabwean intelligence officials saying they saw "this influx of so-called environmentalists as no coincidence but as part of a wider British plot to launch another offensive" against its former colony.

British officials denied the claims.

"We categorically reject the allegations that the United Kingdom is working to discredit Zimbabwe," the British High Commission said.