MICHAEL HOLMES, WORLD NEWS: In Zimbabwe, the government of President Robert Mugabe is trying to remove a legal obstacle to the occupation of hundreds of white-owned farms. It's asked the high court to overturn an earlier ruling that the occupations are illegal. Police say they are powerless to evict the squatters, and they warn the situation could lead to further bloodshed. Tim Ewart has more.</s>TIM EWART, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): At an extraordinary hearing in Harare's high court, the country's attorney general sought to overturn an earlier ruling that those squatting on farms should be evicted. Farm union leaders listened in amazement as the farm occupations were described as the powder keg that could be united by police action. (on camera): Do you agree with that description? Is it that dangerous?</s>JERRY GRANT, COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION: It depends entirely which way you handle it. If the attorney general describes it as a powder keg and then turned it into a powder keg, yes, it would be a powder keg. The attorney general describes it as a possible powder keg, but I'm sure the police can sort that one out, if they wish to.</s>EWART: The reality is that whatever the courts rule is irrelevant. The farm invasions have now assumed a momentum of their own, and the only person who can stop them is President Mugabe. (voice-over): The police, the ZRP (ph), are in an awkward position. On one occupied farm, they were forced to listen uncomfortably as they were harangued by the leader of the war veterans association, which is orchestrating the invasions. He warned them, if you intervene, we'll burn your police station down. On most farms, white families are striving to carry on as normal. The farmers union insisted today that no one had abandoned their property, but there's no sign of the government easing the pressure. Tim Ewart, ITN, Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe's Attorney General Asks That Ruling Against Squatters Be  Overturned