Harare  - Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu on Tuesday accused the West of causing the cholera epidemic that has claimed nearly 600 lives in order to justify military intervention in Zimbabwe.

"After squeezing and strangling the country with sanctions and contaminating it with cholera and anthrax, the West is seeking to use the window of opportunity provided by the disaster to justify military intervention," said Ndlovu. "The cholera situation is under control."

"We have enough chemicals to purify the water. We have got enough foreign currency to buy (new water) pipes," Ndlovu told a press conference.

Ndlovu lashed out at world leaders who have attacked President Robert Mugabe over the cholera outbreak, including US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"I don't have kind words for all heads of state who have made utterances against Zimbabwe one by one," he said.

His remarks followed similar allegations by Mugabe's spokesman in state media Tuesday that the West is pouncing on the cholera outbreak to plot a UN invasion. (dpa)