Failure of leadership - Mandela

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London - Former South African president Nelson Mandela spoke of a "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe during a celebrity fundraising dinner in London Wednesday to mark his 90th birthday.

In what are thought to be his first public comments on the situation, Mandela made a brief reference to Zimbabwe as he detailed a string of problems faced by the world.

"We look back at much human progress, but we sadly note so much failing as well," he said.

"In our time we spoke out on the situation in Palestine and Israel, and that conflict continues unabated.

"We warned against the invasion of Iraq, and observe the terrible suffering in that country.

"We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur.

"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."

Mandela is in London for a week of events in honour of his birthday, including a major rock concert on Friday.

Attendees at the dinner included British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former US president Bill Clinton and actors Will Smith and Robert De Niro.

Run-off poll going ahead

A run-off presidential poll is due to be held in Zimbabwe on Friday although President Robert Mugabe's main opponent Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), pulled out on Sunday due to attacks on supporters.

World leaders have criticised the planned vote, with US President George W Bush branding it a "sham".

Current South African President Thabo Mbeki has faced criticism over his "softly, softly" approach to the situation.

SADC wants vote postponed

Zimbabwe's neighbours from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an emergency summit in Swaziland on Wednesday and urged that the vote be postponed.

Western nations, including Britain and the United States, have said Mugabe should be further isolated if there is not a free and fair ballot.

The UN Security Council has condemned the political violence and France on Wednesday joined other nations in saying it would not recognise "the legitimacy of the power that emerges from the rigged elections of June 27".

Stripped of honorary knighthood

Britain said on Wednesday it was stripping Mugabe of an honorary knighthood bestowed upon him in 1994.

"This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided," a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

Queen Elizabeth II has approved the annulment of the honour and Mugabe is the first foreigner to have an honorary knighthood withdrawn since Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, the day before his execution.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged businesses with interests in Zimbabwe to ensure they were not benefiting Mugabe's government and called for the Zimbabwe cricket team to be banned from touring England next year, a move later confirmed by English cricket officials.

- AFP