Zimbabwe to be allowed to compete in Commonwealth games

Zimbabwe will be allowed to compete in the 2002 Commonwealth Games despite calls for the country to be banned.

The African nation has already been suspended from the Commonwealth proper in response to violence during the re-election of President Mugabe last week.

New Zealand now wants that ban to be extended to the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Manchester in July.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, is adamant that will not happen.

"The suspension that has occurred is only from the councils of the Commonwealth, not from the Commonwealth itself," he said. "Zimbabwe remains a member of the Commonwealth and as a Commonwealth nation they are invited to participate."