Peter Tatchell on his experiences of Robert Mugabe

The gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has told the BBC how he went from seeing Mr Mugabe ''as a man with a just cause" to a critic of his regime.

He said when the two met in the 1990s, Mr Mugabe "almost choked on his tea" upon hearing Mr Tatchell was a gay rights activist.

On another occasion, he was severely beaten by Mr Mugabe's bodyguards when trying to perform a citizen's arrest on the strongman.