UK seeks dialogue with Hizbullah but denies visa to Top Hizbullah official

The UK has barred a senior Hizbullah official from entering Britain ahead of a conference on Islam and politics to be held in London.

The British Home Secretary refused to grant a visa to Hizbullah media spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi who is due to deliver a lecture on "political Islam" at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London, later this month.

"We have not granted him a visa," said Jacqui Smith, the Home Office spokeswoman, adding, "We don't comment on applications."

Earlier on Friday, a SOAS representative declined to comment on the report, saying they had not yet received confirmation about the rejection of Moussawi's application.

Moussawi had made at least two previous visits to the UK. He was allowed to enter the country last year to speak at SOAS and as a guest of Stop the War, a group set up by the Socialist Workers Party.