The Commonwealth appeared deeply divided yesterday after a group of influential foreign ministers rejected Britain's proposal to suspend Zimbabwe over human rights abuses.
As three journalists were arrested outside the Zimbabwean Parliament in Harare following a protest against President Mugabe's draconian new media Bill, Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, put a brave face on defeat when he failed to persuade a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to support sanctions.
Britain's recommendation will be debated by the group again on March 1st before the conclusion of Zimbabwe's presidential election and the Commonwealth watchdog group urged Zimbabwe to admit independent election observers, but yesterday's rejection will be seen by President Mugabe's critics as a missed opportunity. With the backing of Australia Canada and Barbados at the meeting of CMAG's eight member states in London, Mr Straw put the case for suspending Zimbabwe because of "violent intimidation" of opposition parties and the media by President Mugabe's government.
However, the other member states - Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria and Botswana - expressed concern about the proposal, arguing suspension would send the wrong signal ahead of Zimbabwe's presidential elections in March, and without a consensus Britain's suspension proposal fell.
After the meeting, Mr Straw admitted that the overall result was "less than we had hoped for but more than we had expected" but Britain's main concern was to ensure fair elections and see an end to political violence in Zimbabwe.
"What we have done today is to set down the most concrete benchmarks by which the conditions in which the elections in Zimbabwe are able to take place, with an overriding imperative - even at this late stage - of trying to secure as free and fair elections as is possible," Mr Straw said.
In Zimbabwe, meanwhile, a group of 40 journalists mounted a protest outside parliament as politicians debated a controversial media bill, designed to curb press freedom.
With only six weeks until the presidential elections, the proposed legislation has prompted severe criticism within Zimbabwe's media - the Daily News said the Bill would give "inordinate powers" to the government - and a crisis is looming inside President Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party over the proposals. Earlier this week, Zanu-PF MP, Mr Eddison Zvobgo, who chairs the parliamentary committee that scrutinises all legislation, urged parliament to reject the bill, which includes a ban on foreign journalists operating inside Zimbabwe.
Opposing the bill, Mr Zvobgo, told MPs: "I can say without equivocation that this Bill in the original form was the most calculated and determined assault on our liberties guaranteed by the constitution."
The Conservative spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Michael Ancram, said he was disappointed that Britain had not called for suspension earlier. "This makes it even more important that the EU shows determination in imposing targeted sanctions in the absence of Mr Mugabe accepting international monitors, including Britons, and international media.
"I regret this decision has been taken so late in the day and that the government dithered and did not take our advice."