ZIMBABWE: A divided Commonwealth appointed a six-nation task force yesterday to resolve a racially charged dispute between Western and African nations over the exclusion of Zimbabwe for rights abuses.
The six countries, split equally between foes and friends of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, have until tomorrow to find common ground in the 54-nation club of mostly ex-British colonies.
The debate eclipsed other issues such as trade, terrorism and AIDS at the start of the four-day biennial Commonwealth summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
But delegates said the Commonwealth had decided not to lift the suspension of another member, Pakistan, imposed in 1999 after a military coup which brought the then Gen Pervez Musharraf to power.
They said that despite its co-operation in the US-led "war on terror", Pakistan would not be readmitted until President Musharraf stepped down as head of the armed forces and addressed democratic and judicial reform.
In the case of Zimbabwe, Britain was optimistic the task force would not readmit Harare.
"I hope and remain reasonably confident that the suspension will continue until they comply with what the Commonwealth set out in terms of rule of law, human rights and proper governance," British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair said. - (Reuters)