[JURIST] Leading Friday's international brief, Zimbabwe Lands Minister Didymus Mutasa has told reporters that following controversial constitutional reforms [JURIST report] that took effect last year, there are no longer any white farmers operating legally in Zimbabwe. Mutasa said on state television late Thursday that all farmland is now owned by the state and any farmer must have government permission to farm. Mutasa also said that no white farmers had yet applied to his office for that permission and encouraged those still operating to obtain permission quickly before criminal sanctions were used. Zimbabwe has descended into an ever-increasing food crisis since it began its mandatory land reform program six years ago under Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe [BBC profile]. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Zimbabwe [JURIST news archive]. South Africa's Mail & Guardian Online has local coverage.

In other international legal news ...

• UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan [official profile] has told reporters that he will push for US President George W. Bush [official profile] to commit US troops and equipment to the UN peacekeeping force [JURIST report] proposed for the Darfur region [JURIST news archive] of Sudan [government website]. Annan said that maintaining peace and security in the war-torn region would require more than just talk from larger nations, and specifically indicated that he will be asking Bush to commit troops and equipment to the mission when the two meet to discuss Sudan and other issues on Monday. Read the official transcript of Annan's remarks. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of the United Nations [JURIST news archive]. The Sudan Tribune has local coverage.