Zanzibar's authorities have accused neighbouring Kenya of involvement in the smuggling of cloves from the isle.

Kenyan officials have, however, denied any involvement.

A report by a parliamentary select committee also implicates Tanzania's senior officials and the local police.

MPs say the cloves are smuggled through the sea to Kenya's coast

Zanzibar - which united with Tananyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania - is one of the world's leading producers of cloves.

The BBC's Ally Saleh in Zanzibar says the reports claims that Kenya's southern port of Shimoni has been an off-loading point for smuggled Zanzibari cloves.

He says the committee - which was set up by the isle's House of Representatives - accuses the Kenyan Government of colluding with smugglers.

Mafia-like network

Our correspondent says the report claims that after being smuggled to Kenya, the cloves are later exported as Kenyan products.

But the BBC's Alice Muthengi in Nairobi, says Kenya's police spokesman Peter Kimanthi has denied allegations that the Kenyan police have been providing protection to vessels ferrying smuggled cloves from the Indian Ocean isle.

Mr Kimathi said police investigations on the Kenyan shoreline have not come up with any evidence implicating Kenyans of being involved in the alleged smuggling racket.

The Zanzibari committee - headed by its chairman, Ali Juma Shamuhuna, says massive clove smuggling exists on the island, involving a Mafia-like network of government officials.

It also provides names of local leaders it claims are involved in the smuggling racket.

Cloves are used as a spice - but are also believed to have some medicinal value.

The eight-member committee was formed in April after Zanzibari MPs complained about the government's failure to curb cloves smugglling.

Earnings from cloves contribute about 10% of Zanzibar's Gross Domestic Product.