Commonwealth ministers cranked up the pressure on Zimbabwe yesterday by putting the country on its agenda - the first step to possible suspension.
"CMAG (the Commonweath Action Group) decided to include Zimbabwe on its formal agenda and review the situation in that country at its next meeting on January 30th," members of the organisation's eight-strong democracy watchdog said in a statement.
Although CMAG has repeatedly expressed concern at events in Zimbabwe, it has never officially put the country on its agenda - confining its actions to states where clear constitutional violations have taken place.
"The situation in Zimbabwe constitutes a serious and persistent violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values and the rule of law," the statement said. "
Before the meeting, Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler, accused President Robert Mugabe of wreaking "astonishing" damage on the economies of southern Africa by failing to halt the violent occupations of white-owned farms in his country. Both Britain and Australia have condemned the breakdown of law and order in what they say is intimidation of the opposition, media and judiciary by Mr Mugabe's supporters.
Unless there is change in Zimbabwe soon the EU is likely to take "very tough measures" next month, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said.
Zimbabwe's neighbours in the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) repeated their opposition to any sanctions this week, insisting violence had subsided and Mr Mugabe was committed to free and fair elections.