World News joined 1

[Black Widow]

The Queen has stripped President Robert Mugabe of his knighthood following the violence and election crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Foreign Office said it was a mark of "revulsion" over the human rights record in the country.

Mr Mugabe is under growing international pressure over violence and abuses ahead of Friday's presidential run-off election.

He was awarded the knighthood in 1994 by John Major's Conservative Government.

Five years ago there were calls for the knighthood to be removed, and then Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would look into the matter, but no action was taken.

Sky's Glen Oglaza said Mr Mugabe "won't really care one way or the other" but it sends a strong signal of the UK government's attitude towards the man.

Earlier, Gordon Brown revealed he was seeking to block a Zimbabwe cricket tour of England planned for next year.

The Queen approved the annulment of Mr Mugabe's knighthood on the recommendation of Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided."

In Zimbabwe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has taken refuge again in the Dutch embassy in Harare after briefly leaving to give a news conference.

Mr Tsvangirai first entered the embassy on Sunday after withdrawing from the presidential run-off.

He has urged the UN to isolate Mr Mugabe and says a peacekeeping force is needed in Zimbabwe.

Mr Mugabe has shrugged off the unprecedented and unanimous decision by the UN Security Council to condemn violence against the opposition and declare that a free and fair presidential election on Friday was impossible.

South African leaders are holding an emergency summit over the growing political crisis.

Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ruling party, has called for the UN to intervene, saying the situation is now "out of control".

Mr Mugabe, 84, in power since independence in 1980, has vowed never to hand over to the opposition, branding MDC officials as puppets of the West.

He has presided over a slide into economic chaos, including 80% unemployment and the world's highest inflation rate of at least 165,000%.


sky news

[Kenpachi Zaraki]

Very much expected

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.