Iran's Ahmadinejad Visits Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe's opponents say the meeting with Ahmadinejad further isolates ZImbabwe.

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has flown into Zimbabwe for talks with President Robert Mugabe.

Ahmadinejad, whose government is pursuing a nuclear program despite threats of more United Nations sanctions, was invited by Mugabe to open Zimbabwe's annual trade fair.

Mugabe's opponents have denounced the scheduled talks as a meeting of despots that threaten to further isolate the African state.

In a statement, Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change attacked Ahmadinejad over his record on human rights and other issues, saying, "He has made his reputation as a warmonger, a trampler of human rights, an executioner of those with dissenting voices, and leader of questionable legitimacy."

On April 23, Ahmadinejad is to visit Uganda -- which currently holds a seat on the UN Security Council -- for talks expected to touch on the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

compiled from agency reports