Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's honorary Knighthood has been annulled by the Queen, the BBC has learned.

Mr Mugabe, condemned over violence ahead of a presidential run-off election, was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1994.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband recommended to the Queen that he be stripped of the honour - and the Queen has approved that request.

Ministers are also trying to block a Zimbabwe cricket tour next year.

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Brown lauds Bush's lead on terrorism ... Gordon Brown has faced calls in the Commons for Mr Mugabe's honorary Knighthood to be withdrawn - most recently from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

Human rights

But the government has been wary of playing into President Mugabe's claims that Africa is under siege from Britain - the former colonial power.

However there has been growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe's plans to go ahead with a presidential run-off vote on Friday, despite the withdrawal of the opposition because of violence and intimidation.

Mr Brown said on Monday Zimbabwe had seen more than 80 killings, 2,700 beatings and the displacement of 34,000 people

The US has said it will not recognise the outcome of the election run-off and an emergency summit of southern African leaders has called for it to be postponed.

A Foreign Office spokesman said they would continue to focus on improving life for ordinary Zimbabweans but added: "We can no longer justify an individual who is responsible for a consistent campaign of human rights violations and the disregard for the democratic process retaining an honour."

'Criminal cabal'

He added: "His actions have proved beyond all argument that he is not worthy to retain this honour."

Mr Mugabe's was appointed as an honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Bath during his state visit to the UK in 1994. The Foreign Office said conditions in Zimbabwe were then "very different".

Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg told the BBC: "It is symbolic but it is important that we use even symbolic measures to underline our disgust at what Mugabe and his henchmen are now doing in Zimbabwe.

He agreed that Mr Mugabe would "laugh it off" but said: "That is no reason not to do it. I think it is wholly inappropriate for a knighthood to be retained by someone who is behaving with such unforgivable brutality."

For the Conservatives, William Hague said his party had also called for the knighthood to be withdrawn, adding: "A knighthood is one of the highest honours an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve.

"The brutality he has shown to his own people and the disaster he brought upon his own country made Robert Mugabe utterly unworthy of this honour."

The announcement came as Mr Brown prepared "intensified sanctions", including travel and financial restrictions, against "the criminal cabal" trying to keep Mr Mugabe in power.

Conservative leader David Cameron urged a full visa ban for Mr Mugabe and his officials, during exchanges with Mr Brown at prime minister's questions.

Mr Cameron said there was "universal anger" over the "stolen election" results and urged businesses and individuals who had any dealings with the president's regime to examine their conscience.

Mr Brown agreed that businesses should "look at their involvement" in the troubled nation.

"I believe the whole world has woken up to the evils that are going on in Zimbabwe," he said.

"What we want to see is an end to the violence and a peaceful transition in Zimbabwe - that's why the efforts of the African Union are so important."

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is working with the England Cricket Board to halt Zimbabwe's cricket tour to England next year, he said.

He urged other countries to help ban Zimbabwe from taking part in cricket's Twenty 20 World Cup being hosted by the UK next year.

(BBC)

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