Brown urges Zimbabwe 'isolation'

Brown statement on the G8 Summit

Gordon Brown has urged the UN to use the "full weight of the international community" to isolate the "illegitimate" state of Zimbabwe.

In a statement to MPs on this week's G8 summit, he said there was a "growing international coalition for change".

He also outlined G8 action on oil and food prices and climate change, including a target to halve global carbon emissions by 2050.

Tory leader David Cameron also hailed the "real progress" made on Zimbabwe.

And he praised Mr Brown for helping to ensure it was at the top of the agenda at the summit in Toyako, northern Japan.

But he urged more progress on an arms embargo and on sanctions against members of President Robert Mugabe's government.

"On sanctions against the regime and on not recognising the legitimacy of the government, real progress was made and he is to be congratulated on the role he played in that.

"The key is now to translate those words at the G8 into an effective UN resolution," said Mr Cameron.

'Major breakthrough'

The UN Security Council is preparing to vote on targeted UN sanctions against 14 named members of what Mr Brown called the "Mugabe cabal".

The prime minister said it was a "major breakthrough" that Russia agreed on the need for sanctions and that there were now plans to send an EU envoy to Zimbabwe.

He said the EU would have liked sanctions against a wider list of individuals but securing "internationally agreed sanctions" at the UN would be a "major prize".

"It is very important that the whole weight of the international community is behind the efforts to secure a transition in Zimbabwe," Mr Brown added.

"I believe time is short for doing that and it is very important that the UN pass its resolution as soon as possible, and I hope that all countries and all continents will come behind it."

Mr Brown also confirmed to Mr Cameron details concerning the deportation of failed asylum seekers who had come to Britain from Zimbabwe.

"No-one is being forced to return to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom at this time. No-one," said Mr Brown.