Kofi Annan still plans to visit Zimbabwe

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says he still plans to visit Zimbabwe, contradicting a government spokesperson who said his invitation was no longer valid. Annan had been planning to visit Zimbabwe to see the outcome of a slum clearance operation that has left 700-thousand people homeless or without livelihoods. But Mugabe spokesperson George Charamba has said the visit was no longer necessary as the operation had been followed by a rehousing programme. Independent Online says reports have emerged that Annan might use the visit to press Mugabe to step down. Annan told reporters he was not sure the invitation had been withdrawn.