Mugabe blasts Britain

Mugabe said on Wednesday that Zimbabwe was prepared to go to war with Britain, the former colonial power, over the issue of land redistribution, state television reported. He said Zimbabwe would defend its land policy, and if Britain "wanted a war to go on, they will only have themselves to blame." Zimbabwe has argued that compensation to farmers for land seized by the government was Britain's responsibility. An official at the British High Commission in Harare told IRIN, "it is not an easy time to comment on relations."

Meanwhile, the official 'Herald' newspaper said on Thursday that some of the 270 farms reportedly owned or leased by government ministers and senior officials - which were originally meant for resettlement - would be handed over to the rural poor. Britain has repeatedly said that it would only help fund land reform if the government's programme was transparent, cost-effective, and alleviated rural poverty.