United Nations human rights expert Manfred Nowak, who was expelled from Zimbabwe, said he would recommend that the body's Human Rights Council act against the country.

Nowak told reporters after arriving in South Africa that his mission had failed following his detention by security officials in Harare overnight and his deportation this morning. "I have never been treated by any other government like this. It means that the mission has failed," Nowak said.  

Nowak said he had been invited to Zimbabwe by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai whose power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe is under severe strain. Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper accused Nowak of trying to "gatecrash into the country".

The newspaper said Nowak had been informed by the government that he could not visit because the country was hosting foreign ministers from regional body the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) organ on politics, defence and security. "Government had already communicated to him that he would have to visit on a later date," the Herald said. The SADC delegation will be reviewing the power-sharing agreement. – Reuters