Britain to snub Mugabe at food summit as Zimbabwe leader's goons clash with photographers

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander will snub Mr Mugabe after saying it was "obscene" he was allowed to take part in the meeting.

Mr Mugabe, blamed for wrecking his country's economy and leaving starving millions dependent on food aid, can attend despite an EU travel ban as it is a United Nations-organised event.

There were ugly scenes last night as the Zimbabwe leader's bodyguards clashed with photographers outside his luxury hotel.

Pariah: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is escorted by his bodyguards as he arrives at a hotel in Rome

Outrage: Bodyguards of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe scuffle with a cameraman from Canadian CBC television and a photographer

Mr Mugabe rushed inside and said nothing to reporters while onlookers watched in amazement.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has urged wealthy nations to use the summit to agree "urgent and concrete actions" to address rising malnutrition rates.

Emergency aid combined with investment in local agriculture and rural communities was required quickly to prevent the situation worsening, it will tell world leaders.

Debt campaigners called for affected countries to be granted a moratorium on repayments and for Haiti, which has been hit by food riots, to have its  1.3 billion debt cancelled.

Christian Aid and Jubilee Debt Campaign said an emergency World Bank grant to Haiti, announced on Friday, was a "sticking plaster" that would only cover 10 weeks of debt repayments.

Jubilee director Nick Dearden said: "It is shocking that while many millions of people in the world are going short of food, their government are still being forced to shell out millions of pounds a week to rich countries and banks."

A European food safety chief suggested another solution - lifting the ban on feeding animal remains to pigs and chickens, imposed to prevent the spread of BSE to allow grain to be sent to suffering countries.

Patrick Wall, chairman of the European Food Safety Authority, told The Times he was not sure it was "morally or ethically correct" during a global food shortage to feed grain to animals.

The Government said it was awaiting advice on the issue but would not accept any change without proof it posed no risk to public safety.

Grappled away: Mugabe's bodyguard manhandles a cameraman trying to do his job

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was "vital" that the three-day summit agreed measures to increase food production and agricultural productivity in the world's poorest countries - and said the issue would be high on the agenda when the G8 leaders meet in Japan next month.

But today's meeting, due to be attended by many heads of state, seems bound to be overshadowed by Mr Mugabe's first official trip abroad since disputed elections in March.

Mr Mugabe faces a run-off presidential election on June 27 against Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The campaign has been marred by widespread allegations of violence and intimidation directed by the regime at supporters of the MDC.

The president used an FAO meeting in 2005 to launch attacks on then-prime minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush, calling them "international terrorists".

Gordon Brown boycotted an EU-Africa summit in Portugal last December because Mr Mugabe was attending but the importance of the food price issue meant Mr Alexander would still go to Rome.

But the Prime Minister's spokesman said the International Development Secretary would not have "anything to do with" the Zimbabwean president during the gathering.

Mr Alexander told the BBC: "I think it is obscene. I will neither shake hands with Robert Mugabe nor meet Robert Mugabe. I will take the opportunity to make clear my abhorrence at his attendance at a meeting which is supposed to be about increasing the supply of food while his policies have directly the reverse effect in Zimbabwe."

The controversy revived calls for Mr Mugabe to be stripped of his honorary knighthood, conferred on him by John Major's government in 1994.

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: "Mugabe's award undermines our honours system. He should be stripped of his Knighthood as soon as possible.

"Due to his position as a head of state, Mugabe may be allowed to walk the streets of Rome with impunity, but there is no reason on earth why he should do so as an honorary British Knight."

Channel 4 News reported that the first steps were being taken to remove the honour.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the situation was under review and further action could not be ruled out