Jack Straw has rejected claims of government inaction over the spiralling crisis in Zimbabwe.

The foreign secretary told the Commons on Tuesday that the EU, the US and Commonwealth partners were watching events closely. He said action would follow if the country's elections failed to be democratic.

Withdrawing recognition of the Mugabe government was one possible option if the country's elections were not deemed to have been fair, Straw said.

"Our overall objective is, and continues to be, a difficult one to achieve. That is to work as far as we can to achieve a better environment in which fair elections are able to take place," he said. "However easy it may be to say 'cut all relations', we should bear that objective in mind with every statement."

Straw condemned the arrest of a leading journalist by the Mugabe government and told MPs that the British high commission in Harare would be monitoring events in the country.

His comments came ahead of a meeting of EU diplomats on Wednesday where the issue of sanctions is set to top the agenda.

The shadow foreign secretary, Michael Ancram, asked why no official EU observers had been allowed into the country.

He also demanded to know why the free access for the media would not include the BBC or people from British national newspapers - concessions to Mugabe.

In a series of angry exchanges, Ancram accused Straw and the EU of appeasing Mugabe by giving him the benefit of the doubt.

"When is he going to stop talking and do something before its too late for something to be done?" he asked.

"We are not going to get into a game with Mugabe. Neither of those bodies are accepting conditions from Mugabe," Straw answered.

American plans for a missile defence treaty and the continuing Middle East crisis also resulted in strong exchanges between the foreign secretary and Labour MPs.

Labour backbencher Brian White called on ministers to lobby the American government.

He accused America of operating double standards by calling for support in the war against terrorism and refusing to honour the Kyoto agreement or the anti-ballistic missile treaty.

Britain had little leverage over the issue as the treaty was a bilateral agreement between the US and Russia, said Straw.

Glenda Jackson asked if any request had been made for US bases in Britain to be used as part of the system.

"Would there be any debate before any such request was granted?" she asked.

As yet no request had been made, Straw said.