Action: Foreign Office

Britain is increasingly likely to call for international sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

Moves by foreign secretary Jack Straw became almost inevitable after the country's president, Robert Mugabe, secured the passage of a security bill criminalising criticism of the president and giving the police new powers to disperse demonstrations. Laws restricting media freedom and banning foreign journalists are also expected to be passed.

The EU has now joined the US in threatening Mugabe with sanctions if he continues to dismantle democracy within Zimbabwe and he has already been threatened with expulsion from the Commonwealth.

Foreign Office minister for Africa, Baroness Amos, attacked the abandoning of democratic freedom.

"These two pieces of legislation show the government of Zimbabwe's contempt for basic democratic principles. It is increasingly clear that the people of Zimbabwe may be denied a free choice in the March presidential election. It is hard to see how free and fair elections can now be held in a country whose government is determined to impose such severe restrictions on the Zimbabwean people's ability to organise, campaign, and express their views," she said.

The Conservative shadow foreign secretary, Michael Ancram, called for the government to step up its response.

"The government must stop shying away from tackling Mugabe and the economic disaster that threatens millions or ordinary Zimbabweans. Suspension from the Commonwealth is not enough; Mugabe will not loose sleep over it. We must move now to smart sanctions, personally targeting Mugabe and his henchmen," he said.

Michael Moore, the Liberal Democrat shadow foreign minister, called on the EU and Commonwealth to consider imposing sanctions.

"A country which was once a beacon of hope for Africa has taken another step towards the abyss with the passing of new 'security' legislation. The British government must persuade international institutions like the EU, the Commonwealth and the UN to urgently consider targeted sanctions against the elite of Zimbabwe."