Delegation divided over Zimbabwe

The delegation visited farms during their visit

By the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Barnaby Philipps

A group of ministers from Commonwealth countries has called on the Zimbabwean authorities to look into allegations of human rights violations.

Zimbabwe agreed at Abuja

No further occupations of white-owned farms

To restore the rule of law to the process of land reform

To the principle of freedom of expression

To take firm action against violence and intimidation

The Commonwealth delegation has spent the past three days in Zimbabwe, assessing the implementation of a recent agreement on land reform.

Under the terms of that agreement, Zimbabwe promised to end violent invasions of white-owned land, while Britain pledged to help fund a peaceful redistribution of land.

The Commonwealth ministers were deeply divided on what to say at the end of their visit, and eventually came up with a weak declaration.

The ministers, accompanied by the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, had spoken to President Robert Mugabe and opposition politicians.

White farmers say land invasions are continuing

They visited farms in an attempt to understand Zimbabwe's land crisis - and heard widely divergent opinions.

The Canadian Secretary of State for Africa, David Kilgour, who was openly critical of the Zimbabwean authorities, told the BBC that his government had almost abandoned the exercise.

He had wanted a greater emphasis on what he perceives as the breakdown of law and order in Zimbabwe. Britain supported his position.

But in public, all parties remain committed to the Abuja agreement on peaceful land reform.

The United Nations Development Programme is now charged with supervising its implementation. A UNDP team is expected in Zimbabwe next month.