Peter Tatchell

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said he will seek Robert Mugabe's arrest if the Zimbabwean president visits France later this month.

Armed with sworn affidavits from Zimbabwean torture victims, Tatchell has pledged to renew his attempts to have the African dictator taken into custody.

He will make his move during Mugabe's controversial visit to Paris, which is planned for February 19.

Tatchell has previously made allegations of assault during violent public confrontations with Mugabe's bodyguards, but is ready to renew attempts to indict Zimbabwe's leader "under France's anti-torture law".

He is also calling on Europe's leaders to stop playing "diplomatic games" and to arrest Mugabe for human rights abuses.

"While Zimbabwe burns, Mugabe will be wined and dined by president Chirac at the Elysee Palace," he told ePolitix.com.

"Tony Blair is expected to agree to this blood-stained banquet as part of a trade off to win French support for the renewal of the EU travel ban on Mugabe.

"Renewing the ban by violating it? Where is the sense or morality in that?

"It is time to stop playing diplomatic games. Instead of feting the Zimbabwean dictator, Chirac should arrest him for crimes against humanity.

"If he won't arrest Mugabe, I will go to a Paris magistrate and apply for an arrest warrant myself."

"Legal precedent is on my side" he added, citing the indictment, arrest and trial of former Serbian president, Slobodan Milosevic.

"The international tribunal in The Hague ruled that a head of state does not have immunity from prosecution for grave human rights abuses," he said.

"The indictment of Milosevic sets a contemporary precedent for the arrest of the Zimbabwean president. If Slobodan Milosevic can be put on trial, why can't Robert Mugabe?"

His threat comes as Europe's diplomats again failed to renew sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Wednesday's Brussels meeting of EU ambassadors had been expected to reach a deal "rolling over" a travel ban for the country's president and senior officials.

But at the insistence of France, negotiations had been expected to allow the Paris visit and Zimbabwe's participation in a Franco-African summit - a compromise move thought to be backed by the UK.Some European capitals, including Paris, are thought to be holding out for a sanctions exemption for countries hosting international summits - including those under an EU aegis.

But with these complex diplomatic issues at stake, Wednesday's meeting was unable to find consensus.

Ambassadors will be meeting next Wednesday in a bid to break the deadlock before the measures, which include an arms trade ban and a government assets freeze, expire.