Zimbabwean refugees can stay

The Government today halted its policy of deporting Zimbabwean asylum seekers after facing international condemnation amid fears that opponents of President Robert Mugabe are being handed over to his feared secret police.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the change of policy this afternoon during a speech on immigration and asylum policy, in which he also promised tougher jail sentences for organised gangs who smuggle asylum seekers into the UK.

The change of heart on Zimbabwe comes after the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Amnesty International and even the Tory Party spoke out about the dangers of deporting asylum seekers with links to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. Mr Blunkett said: "After extensive consideration of all the available evidence and official advice, I have decided to suspend removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe until after the elections are held in March. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, with a view to re-appraising our position immediately after the elections are concluded."

Mr Blunkett stressed that, in recent months, refugee status had been granted to a number of opposition activists - including teachers, nurses and journalists who have been beaten up and harassed by Mugabe's ZANU-PF regime or his Central Intelligence Organisation.

Britain and the US have meanwhile begun preparations to track down millions of dollars believed to be held in secret bank accounts by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

The identification of the funds taken out of the African state is essential if the US and EU decide to impose personal sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his ministers.

The Foreign Office would not confirm today that preparations were being made over the bank accounts, but a spokesman said it was working "to apply pressure to the government of Zimbabwe".

Move to track Mugabe's millions