Zimbabwe crisis talks delayed

Commonwealth leaders are deeply divided

Commonwealth leaders meeting in Australia have postponed a decision on the contentious issue of how to respond to the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

During the first session of the four-day meeting, deep differences became apparent and it was decided that the matter would be discussed in private on Sunday.

Queen Elizabeth opened the summit

The UK and Australia are leading calls for a mechanism to provide for action should there be evidence that next week's presidential election has been rigged - but some African leaders argue that Zimbabwe should not even be on the agenda.

The heads of government meeting (CHOGM) did however decide that Pakistan should remain suspended, saying it had failed to make sufficient progress in restoring democracy since the 1999 coup.

Spokesman Joel Kibazo also announced that the more than 50 leaders present at the meeting had agreed to expel any member state that aided, financed or harboured terrorists.

Guarantees

After Queen Elizabeth formally opened the summit in the resort of Coolum, the Commonwealth leaders sat down to their first session.

It is a major test of our credibility

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

The four-day summit is expected to consider a report which covers, among other things, how the Commonwealth should deal with member states that violate its fundamental democratic values.

This will include the key issue of what to do about the situation in Zimbabwe, which the group has already decided constitutes a serious and persistent violation of its values.

President Robert Mugabe's government is accused of breaches of democratic rule and intimidation during the election campaign.

The UK and Australia have abandoned efforts to have Zimbabwe suspended before the 9-10 March poll.

CHOGM is the largest gathering of world leaders since 11 Sept

They are instead demanding guarantees that, if Commonwealth election observers decide the result does not reflect the will of the people, there will be a mechanism to suspend Zimbabwe.

"If this violence and intimidation carries on and Mugabe wins the election in those circumstances, then for the Commonwealth it is a major test of our credibility," the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said.

"We've got to act in those circumstances."

Risk of divide

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said such a mechanism was being discussed and said he believed some process would be agreed.

Commonwealth facts

Founded : 1931

54 member states

1.7 billion people

Leader: Queen Elizabeth II

But the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Barnaby Mason says it is not clear that will happen.

"As you would expect, there was some comment from some quarters saying... we think it should not be ... looked at in this way," conference spokesman Joel Kibazo said.

Before the session, Namibian Foreign Minister Theo Ben Gurirab told the BBC that some people had already made up their minds that President Mugabe had rigged next week's presidential election, and were out to punish him.

Mr Ben Gurirab said the issue was being given too much prominence at the summit.

Our correspondent says there is a danger the discussions over Zimbabwe could lead to a bitter division between African states and the predominantly white countries of the old Commonwealth.

'Partnership of nations'

There were no direct references to Zimbabwe in the opening speeches, although Australian Prime Minister John Howard emphasised the need to promote the fundamental values of the Commonwealth, such as democracy.

But President Mbeke, the outgoing Commonwealth Chairman, emphasised different issues, like the struggle against racism, poverty and under-development.

All speakers paid tribute to Commonwealth head Queen Elizabeth, who this year celebrates 50 years on the throne.

The Queen told the summit that it was the diversity of the Commonwealth - a free partnership of nations - that made the organisation strong.