Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin

The government has again refused to put down a United Nations resolution on Zimbabwe.

Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin faced repeated calls in the Commons to initiate a motion condemning the regime of Robert Mugabe.

Britain has made clear its concerns over Mugabe's controversial land reform policy as well as reported human rights abuses and an undemocratic election.

"We couldn't have been any louder," the minister argued.

But shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram told the Commons that the government's "policy of quiet diplomacy has been an abject failure".

"Will they now not stop pussy-footing and with the EU and the UN start genuinely to tighten the screws on Zimbabwe?" he asked.

"When will the government stop walking by on the other side and start taking a real lead?"

Labour MP Kate Hoey said even a vote against Britain would raise the profile of Mugabe's abuses around the world.

"Does he not think it is a good idea to at last we decide to take this to the United Nations security council to seek a resolution even if we don't get one the first time, it is raising it and bringing it into the international arena, rather than leaving it as a Commonwealth and African issue?" she asked the minister.

However Mullin insisted that a UN resolution would face defeat from Zimbabwe's African allies and strengthen the president's position.

He replied that "there is really no point in pursuing a resolution at the UN unless there is some possibility of success".

"On previous occasions when it has been raised the issue has fallen to a no action motion," he said.

"That frankly just helps Mugabe and we don't want to do that."

And Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack asked ministers "not to be so dismissive of the initiative at the United Nations".

"Surely there is something to be said for this country and its allies, making it abundantly plain how deeply we despise and deplore this tyrannical regime," he claimed.

"And even if some United Nations members refuse to sign up, should they not exposed as being accessories after the fact?"

Mullin responded by saying that "I don't think anybody is in any doubt over how strongly we feel about what is going on in Zimbabwe".

"In the end what is going to bring an end to this regime are the internal dynamics," he claimed.

"It is not possible to run a country on 80 per cent unemployment, 700 per cent inflation and when foreigners are having to help feed half your people.

"Inevitably this state of affairs is going to come to an end sooner or later.

"What we have to do is make sure that it comes to an end in a dignified and orderly manner and not one which inflicts greater suffering on the much peoples of Zimbabwe."