http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5664224&cKey=1112869237000HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has joined world dignitaries in Rome for Friday's funeral of Pope John Paul, an official says, despite travel restrictions imposed on him by the EU.
The official said Mugabe, a Roman Catholic, had left for the Vatican on Wednesday night. He gave no further details.
The European Union imposed travel sanctions on Zimbabwean government officials after accusations of vote rigging in Zimbabwe's parliamentary polls in 2000 and in Mugabe's re-election two years later.
The Vatican is technically a state within a state and not part of the EU, although any visitor must pass through Italian territory. Mugabe said last week his government enjoyed excellent relations with Italy.
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