Zimbabwe expels U.N. human rights officer

The former Canadian Supreme Court judge told reporters thatthe expulsion was part of "a pattern of the Zimbabwe governmenttaking a very uncooperative attitude" towards U.N. humanitarianagencies and international aid groups in recent weeks.

"We hope the government will rescind this decision," saidArbour, who has frequently angered the administration ofPresident Robert Mugabe with her criticism of its rights recordand treatment of political opponents.

Arbour, who steps down from the U.N. post at the end ofthis month, said the desk officer from her Geneva headquartershad entered Zimbabwe on Sunday and was expelled two days later.

She did not name the official, but said he was sent to workwith other U.N. staff to help them assess human rights issuesin advance of Zimbabwe's run-off vote on June 27.

Earlier this month Zimbabwe ordered all foreign aid groups,on whom U.N. agencies largely rely to distribute food andmedicines, to halt work in the impoverished country.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Harare tochange its position and allow the non-governmental groups tokeep providing assistance to hungry and suffering Zimbabweans,but so far the government has not budged.

(Editing by Laura MacInnis)