Zimbabwe Watch:Asylum Seeker Wins Case

A Zimbabwean has won his battle against deportation in a test case ruling that puts in doubt the United Kingdom's policy of returning failed asylum seekers to the country. The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal has ruled that an unnamed man will be at rish if he is sent back.

However British officials feel that this is opening a flood gate giving asylum to all who seek it now.

"This judgement drives an entire coach and horses through that and leaves the entire system open to abuse," said immigration minister Tony McNulty.

However shadow home secretary David Davis said the decision was made necessary by the "abject failure" of the government's policy on Zimbabwe.

An Amnesty International spokeswoman said it hoped the Home Office would "recognise today's judgement when making future decisions about the claims of Zimbabwean asylum seekers".

A ban on deportations to Zimbabwe to Britain, which had been in force for two years, was lifted last November. Zimbabwean asylum seekers staged hunger strikes and public protests at immigration centres earlier this year. Some 12,000 people from Zimbabwe claimed asylum in the UK between 2002 and 2004.