PM: angry

Tony Blair is returning from the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit after expressing deep frustration at the meeting's failure to condemn the actions of Robert Mugabe.

He said the decision to stop short of expelling Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth was regrettable.

Blair said that it was already obvious that next week's elections would be tainted by widespread violence and intimidation.

"There is no point in using diplomatic language. We should have provided a far stronger statement and backed it up with action," he said.

He said the credibility of the Commonwealth was on the line and hit out at the decision to delay the imposition of sanctions against the Mugabe regime.

Setting himself apart from other Commonwealth leaders, Blair said the final decision on Zimbabwe represented the "lowest common denominator".

Whilst he dismissed suggestions that the Commonwealth had split along black/white lines over the proposed action against Zimbabwe, he let it be known that the final decision was unacceptable.

"We postponed the day of judgment on Zimbabwe and I think that is the wrong thing to do," said the prime minister.

Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, expressed concern that African countries has used the summit to close ranks behind Zimbabwe.

Helen Clark, the prime minister of New Zealand, also expressed frustration at the communiqué agreed by the Commonwealth heads of government.

"The communiqué reads a little like everyone is responsible for the violence and intimidation," she said. "That is not the case."

Blair will report back on the summit during a statement to MPs at 3.30pm on Wednesday.