Hundreds protest Mugabe in London

Hundreds of people gathered outside Zimbabwe’s High Commission today to protest against the Mugabe government’s prosecution of opposition leaders.

Organisers said the demonstrators, who included exiles and torture victims of the Mugabe regime, numbered around 400 and had come to London from all over England. Police could not confirm that number.

The group were voicing their opposition to treason charges Mugabe has laid against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other senior members of his Movement for Democratic Change, who are due in court on Monday.

The demonstration began at midday and lasted around two hours, although the weekly vigil that began a month ago was continuing late this afternoon with around 50 people remaining.

Police said the protest was peaceful with no arrests or violence.

The protest came a day after Zimbabwe banned Prime Minister Tony Blair and scores of his ministers from entering the country and imposed visa requirements on Britons in retaliation for European sanctions.

That move in turn was made a day after the Government announced that most Zimbabweans will need a visa to enter Britain.