Harare, Zimbabwe — Britain has asked Mozambique to help restore communication between London and Harare, Zimbabwe's state-owned 'Herald' newspaper reported on Thursday, quoting an unnamed government source.

Relations between the two have soured in recent years due to bilateral recriminations over Zimbabwe's controversial land reform programme involving the seizure of farms from white farmers to resettle landless peasants.

Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial power, is bitterly opposed to the programme, and has launched an international campaign to diplomatically isolate the southern African country to force it to back down.

"They thought they would win through pressure what they need to settle through justice and a sense of historical responsibility," the source said, referring to Britain's about-turn in seeking to talk to Harare.

The source said Mozambique's foreign minister was expected in Zimbabwe next week to deliver a message from the British government about re-opening diplomatic and other communication channels between the two countries.

President Robert Mugabe said last week Zimbabwe was prepared to talk to London about the land issue, but insisted his government would not back down.