THE leader of a territory's independence campaign has been approved for the Freedom of Oxford.

City councillors voted to give Benny Wenda, the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, the honour at a meeting on Monday. Mr Wenda, who lives in Marston, is expected to follow Nelson Mandela, Sir Roger Bannister and Oxford-based charity Oxfam, in receiving the award.

He was nominated by Green Party group leader Craig Simmons and Mr Simmons' motion was given cross-party support at Oxford Town Hall. The honour will be granted at another meeting at a later date as long as two-thirds of councillors give support.