LONDON, June 25: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been stripped of his honorary British knighthood as a “mark of revulsion” following recent pre-election violence, the Foreign Office in London said on Tuesday.

Queen Elizabeth II has approved the annulment of the honour — bestowed on Mugabe by the former colonial power 14 years ago — on the recommendation of Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

“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 spokesman said.

Mugabe, who is under growing international pressure over violence ahead of a run-off presidential election, was awarded the honorary knighthood in 1994 by then prime minister John Major’s government.

At the time he was widely perceived by many African and western countries as a champion of the anti-colonial movement.

But recent years have seen him increasingly reviled and isolated by the West, culminating in a wave of condemnation over recent violence against opposition figures and supporters.

“We can no longer justify an individual who is responsible for a consistent campaign of human rights violations and the disregard for the democratic process retaining an honour,” said the spokesman.

It is rare move for the queen to strip someone of their honours.

Mugabe is the first foreigner to have an honorary knighthood withdrawn since Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, the day before his execution.

Until recently some officials had reportedly argued that Britain should not strip Mugabe of his honour since it might be perceived as a petty and colonial move.

Mugabe was made an honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Civil Division of The Most Honourable Order of Bath during his 1994 state visit to Britain.—AFP