China halting arms shipment to Zimbabwe

DURBAN, South Africa, April 24 (UPI) -- China said it was bringing back a shipload of weapons destined for Zimbabwe because it could find no port to unload the goods.

An official in Beijing said that the ship, which attempted to dock last week at the South African port of Durban, had been ordered home by the Chinese-owned company that sent it.

The move followed intense U.S. pressure on Beijing to cancel the shipment and halt further deliveries to Zimbabwe, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The U.S. State Department also warned south African countries not to accept the shipment.