SOUTH AFRICA: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says he and others have been refused entry to Zimbabwe for a humanitarian mission.

Carter says he and other members of The Elders group were informed Friday night by former South African President Thabo Mbeki that efforts to secure travel visas had failed.

The Elders group was formed by Nelson Mandela and includes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mandela’s wife Graca Machel, an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

The group said last week it planned to visit Zimbabwe. Mbeki is mediating the country’s political crisis.

Zimbabwe’s government had no immediate comment Saturday.

– AFP