ZIMBABWE: A judge in Zimbabwe stepped in last night to stop the deportation of the Guardian's Harare correspondent, who had been taken to the airport by immigration officials.
Judge Charles Hungwe ordered officials to bring Andrew Meldrum (51) to his court and said he saw no reason why the reporter should be detained. "He must be able to enjoy his freedom," Judge Hungwe said.
Earlier, Mr Meldrum, who was born in the US, was forced into a government car by a group of uniformed and paramilitary police who tried to keep him from speaking to waiting reporters.
"This is not the action of a legitimate government. It is afraid of a free press. It is afraid of independent and critical reporting," Mr Meldrum shouted before being dragged to the car and taken to the airport.
Mr Meldrum, who has lived in Zimbabwe for 23 years, is accused of being critical of the southern African country's government and its dictatorial ruler, Mr Robert Mugabe.
Mr Meldrum said he was issued a "prohibited immigrant" order by officials in the capital, Harare.
"I am being deported now," he said. He was forced into a waiting car by a group of uniformed and paramilitary police who tried to stop him speaking to waiting reporters.
Mr Meldrum, who has written for The Irish Times, is the fourth foreign journalist to be expelled from Zimbabwe in two years.
Last year he was cleared of publishing false information about Zimbabwe. The government immediately issued him with a deportation order. A Supreme Court appeal remained pending.
On Tuesday, immigration officials seized Mr Meldrum's US passport and his long-term residence permit, accusing him of "continuing to write bad things" about Zimbabwe. - (AP)