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The Botswana government has denied any plans to evacuate white farmers from Zimbabwe through Botswana or that it has authorised the presence of European or British troops in Botswana to assist in such an exercise.
"I know nothing of this. We would never permit foreign troops to be stationed on our soil," senior permanent secretary to the president, Louis Selepeng, was quoted as saying. "We have our own forces who are capable of managing any such situation. It is news to me," acting permanent secretary to the president, Samuel Rathedi, added.
According to news reports the men were reacting to reports published in German newspapers that an evacuation plan was in place and reports in British newspapers that a British aircraft carrier was sailing to stand by off the coast of Mozambique and two warships were on standby.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions