Threat to extend travel ban to family of Mugabe

Ministers warned they were prepared to extend the European travel ban on leading figures of Robert Mugabe's regime yesterday amid claims that the Zimbabwean president's daughter was studying in London.

Ian McCartney, the Foreign Office minister, said he was considering expanding the travel ban to include children of leading figures in the regime, telling the Commons that Bona Mugabe, one of the president's three children, was studying at the London School of Economics.

The LSE denied that she was registered at the college. An LSE spokesperson said: "Bona Mawere Mugabe is not registered as a student at LSE. We are not aware of any relatives of Mr Mugabe being registered as students here."

Mr McCartney spoke as ministers came under pressure to step up pressure on Mr Mugabe and use diplomatic measures to end the "softly softly" approach of Zimbabwe's neighbours.

Interesting? Click here to explore further