THE deportation of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe has now been halted, Gordon Brown said.

The Prime Minister told MPs that while officials continued to deal with the issue on a case-by-case basis, no returns were cur- rently taking place.

"No-one is being forced to return to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom at this time," he said.

Mr Brown, who has been under pressure to stop the deportations in the wake of the violence surrounding the disputed presidential election, said that ministers were also looking to help failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers who were unable to work.

"They are prevented from leaving the UK through no fault of their own," he said. "They are provided with accommoda- tion and vouchers to ensure that they are not destitute but we are looking to see what we can do to support Zimbabweans in this situa- tion."