The president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has launched an attack on Britain while speaking at a political rally.

President Mugabe said: "I have no problem with ordinary British people. I respect the Queen. But its the demons in 10 Downing Street who must be exorcised by someone."

President Mugabe also said he believes someone is planning an attack on Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile Morgan Tsvangirai claims Zimbabweans will be forced to vote in the presidential election because of the presence of troops and militias close to President Robert Mugabe's government.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader said: "What will happen is that people will be forced to vote because the military were mobilised to accompany this process.

"The militias were put outside the cities to oblige traditional leaders to go to the urns," he said.

Robert Mugabe appears more isolated than ever after Nelson Mandela condemned the "tragic failure of leadership".

Mr Mandela finally broke his silence on the crisis unfolding in the southern African country during a speech in London.

"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," he said.

The speech after Britain stripped the Zimbabwean leader of his honorary knighthood over his "abuse of human rights" and "abject disregard" for democracy.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also cancelled Zimbabwe's tour of the UK next year after demands from ministers.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among the audience, as was former US president Bill Clinton.

Mr Mandela's comments come after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew at the weekend from tomorrow's presidential election run-off.

He said he could not ask supporters to put their lives at risk by voting for him, amid spiralling political violence.

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