Commonwealth: No Zimbabwe Sanctions

Commonwealth leaders decided Monday not to suspend Zimbabwe from their organization over violence that has marred the country's presidential campaign.

Britain, Australia and New Zealand had demanded Zimbabwe's immediate suspension, but African nations insisted no action be taken until after the March 9-10 vote. The Commonwealth, meeting in four-day summit through Tuesday, operates by consensus rather than majority vote.

The leaders of South Africa, Australia and Nigeria -- the Commonwealth's past, present and future chairmen -- will await a report from Commonwealth election observers before taking any action.

If election observers rule that this weekend's voting is not free and fair, the Commonwealth could censure or suspend Zimbabwe. Individual member states also could impose economic sanctions.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, underlining the position of many African nations, criticized leaders who called for an immediate suspension. ``Anybody who believes that Zimbabwe should be suspended before the elections is not fair,'' he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, however, remained adamant that Zimbabwe should have been suspended immediately from the organization of Britain and its former colonies.

``We should have gone further,'' Blair said. ``The case for suspending Zimbabwe now, I think, is very plain.''

Critics say supporters of President Robert Mugabe are instigating violence and intimidating voters in attempts to extend his 22-year rule.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who also pushed for suspension, said the planned election review was a ``good outcome,'' which ``provides a sure mechanism, a quick mechanism for dealing with the issue, but a fair mechanism.''

Zimbabwe's opposition was dismayed at the Commonwealth's lack of action.

Sekai Holland, a spokeswoman for Zimbabwe's Movement for Change opposition party, described Monday's decision as ``an insult'' and said she feared a bloodbath in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe did not attend the summit, but speaking Sunday in Zimbabwe, he admonished Britain for accusing his ruling party of using violence and intimidation to rig the election.

``We have a tradition of democratic elections with no cheating at all,'' he said. ``No one should teach us about democracy and human rights. There were none until we fought for them.''

The Commonwealth's 54 member states include Britain, India, Pakistan, Canada, Australia, a range of Pacific and Caribbean Island nations and many African states. Their combined population of 1.7 billion accounts for one third of the world's population.