UK MP defends meeting with Mugabe

Veteran Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames has defended meeting with President Robert Mugabe saying that the meeting was personal.

Sir Nicholas said they met for old times’ sake, adding:

It was purely for Auld Lang Syne and I’m glad I did it. I met him purely and entirely in a personal capacity – there was no-one present, it was just him and me

However Mugabe has been quoted in State media saying that Soames’ visit was an indication that the British wanted to initiate dialogue. Ms Hoey, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe said she would be urging ministers to make clear that Sir Soames’ was not visiting on their behalf. 

More: BBC