London - The head of the Anglican Church Wednesday described the situation in Zimbabwe as a "complete humanitarian outrage" resulting from "state aggression towards civil society."

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said in a statement in London that "outside pressure" on the regime of President Robert Mugabe was now "more necessary than ever."

"The Zimbabwean situation is now a complete humanitarian outrage, compounded by self-serving and self-deceiving pronouncements from those clinging to power," said Williams.

"We are witnessing the breakdown of health care systems and water supply, on top of the ravages of cholera in many cities and towns. The continued state aggression towards civil society is unacceptable, most recently against the few doctors that remain in the country to serve an increasingly sick and desperate population."

His remarks came after Williams' deputy, John Sentamu, who is Archbishop of York, openly called for Mugabe to be removed from power.

Earlier this year, Sentamu, who is from Uganda, cut up his dog collar live on television in protest againt the Mugabe regime, saying he would only wear it again after Mugabe had gone. (dpa)