UN representative barred entry into Zimbabwe

The United Nations torture investigator said he was barred from Zimbabwe and sent back to South Africa after a night in Harare airport.

An angry Manfred Nowak, speaking to reporters in Johannesburg today, said he would recommend the UN take action for the "serious diplomatic incident".

Mr Nowak says he had a meeting with Zimbabwe's prime minister today, and received word from other Zimbabwean officials that he should not come only after he had flown from Austria to South Africa en route to neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Mr Nowak flew to Zimbabwe yesterday.

He said when he arrived, airport immigration officials told him the foreign ministry had not cleared his meeting with the prime minister.