Zimbabwe

The moment I have been wondering about has occurred. Tragically, not yet a happy outcome for the Zimbabwe. But finally Nelson Mandela has broken his silence on the matter and commented on the situation there.

"We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we had seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe," Mandela said. It is a pity it is so short and lacking in detail, but perhaps now he has spoken out, he will say more.

A few hours before Mandela spoke yesterday, the Queen revoked Mugabe's knighthood (awarded on the recommendation of David Miliband in 1994) using unusually strong language. A Foreign Office spokesman (on her behalf) said: "This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided."

Gordon Brown also revealed today that he was seeking to block a Zimbabwe cricket tour of England planned for next year.