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| No Angolan 'troops for Zimbabwe' | No Angolan 'troops for Zimbabwe' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Angola has denied reports it is sending 2,500 feared paramilitary troops, known as the Ninjas, to Zimbabwe as a "lie". | Angola has denied reports it is sending 2,500 feared paramilitary troops, known as the Ninjas, to Zimbabwe as a "lie". |
| "It is not the custom of the Angolan government to interfere in the internal matters of other governments," Angola's embassy in Harare said in a statement. | "It is not the custom of the Angolan government to interfere in the internal matters of other governments," Angola's embassy in Harare said in a statement. |
| As part of a bilateral deal signed last week Angola agreed to train Zimbabwean police, a BBC correspondent says. | As part of a bilateral deal signed last week Angola agreed to train Zimbabwean police, a BBC correspondent says. |
| Meanwhile, Amnesty International says the African Union has failed to act on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. | Meanwhile, Amnesty International says the African Union has failed to act on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. |
| "What more do we need to witness before the African Union or the UN tell the Zimbabwean government 'enough is enough'?" Amnesty's Kolawole Olaniyan wrote in a letter to the UK's Guardian newspaper. | "What more do we need to witness before the African Union or the UN tell the Zimbabwean government 'enough is enough'?" Amnesty's Kolawole Olaniyan wrote in a letter to the UK's Guardian newspaper. |
| Scores of activists have been arrested and allegedly assaulted after police broke up a banned rally in Harare on 11 March. | Scores of activists have been arrested and allegedly assaulted after police broke up a banned rally in Harare on 11 March. |
| Four senior MDC officials were prevented from leaving the country, some to seek treatment for injuries they say were sustained in police custody. | Four senior MDC officials were prevented from leaving the country, some to seek treatment for injuries they say were sustained in police custody. |
| Feared | Feared |
| The UK Times newspaper reported on Thursday that about 2,500 Angolan paramilitary police were to be deployed in Zimbabwe to boost the security forces of President Robert Mugabe. | The UK Times newspaper reported on Thursday that about 2,500 Angolan paramilitary police were to be deployed in Zimbabwe to boost the security forces of President Robert Mugabe. |
| International condemnation has freely flowed, but little action has followed Amnesty's Kolawole Olaniyan SA slammed over Zimbabwe | International condemnation has freely flowed, but little action has followed Amnesty's Kolawole Olaniyan SA slammed over Zimbabwe |
| The BBC's Lara Pawson in Luanda says the Ninjas, so called because they are dressed in black, are feared by most Angolans for their brutality. | The BBC's Lara Pawson in Luanda says the Ninjas, so called because they are dressed in black, are feared by most Angolans for their brutality. |
| Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi confirmed their arrival, the Time says, adding that the first batch of 1,000 Angolan troops were due in April. | Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi confirmed their arrival, the Time says, adding that the first batch of 1,000 Angolan troops were due in April. |
| But our correspondent says the Angolan ministry of interior denied reports of their Zimbabwean deployment on Wednesday. | But our correspondent says the Angolan ministry of interior denied reports of their Zimbabwean deployment on Wednesday. |
| "Not a single man is being sent," Angola's interior ministry spokesman Carmo Neto told the BBC. | "Not a single man is being sent," Angola's interior ministry spokesman Carmo Neto told the BBC. |
| Our correspondent points out that Angola long denied that they had sent any sort of support ? military, financial or otherwise ? to assist Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo in 2003, although a UN panel later insisted that they had. | |
| Mr Olaniyan, Amnesty's Africa programme director, hit out at the international community over its inaction on Zimbabwe. | Mr Olaniyan, Amnesty's Africa programme director, hit out at the international community over its inaction on Zimbabwe. |
| "International condemnation has freely flowed, but little action has followed. Although the African Union has called for human rights 'to be respected' in Zimbabwe, this is far too weak a response," he said. | "International condemnation has freely flowed, but little action has followed. Although the African Union has called for human rights 'to be respected' in Zimbabwe, this is far too weak a response," he said. |
| Earlier this week, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa likened the current crisis in Zimbabwe to the sinking of the Titanic | Earlier this week, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa likened the current crisis in Zimbabwe to the sinking of the Titanic |
| Over the past week, South Africa has become more forthright in its remarks, but it has not openly criticised President Mugabe's government. | Over the past week, South Africa has become more forthright in its remarks, but it has not openly criticised President Mugabe's government. |
| More than 80% of Zimbabweans are living in poverty, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. | More than 80% of Zimbabweans are living in poverty, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. |