Brown issues stark warning to Mugabe

Gordon Brown has ratcheted up the pressure on Robert Mugabe as the Zimbabwean leader's government accused Britain of setting up a key regional summit.

The prime minister said he was "appalled" by the "intimidation and violence" Mr Mugabe's "regime" appeared to be resorting to, almost two weeks after the March 29th presidential election whose results remain unannounced.

An opposition count suggests Mr Mugabe has lost the vote to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, but the results remain unconfirmed and Mr Mugabe remains in power.

Although the international community has not yet stepped in Mr Brown warned they may be prepared to do so in the near future.

"We will be vigilant," he pledged.

"The international community will remain careful to do nothing to undermine efforts to secure an outcome that reflects the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe.

"But the international community's patience with the regime is wearing thin."

Mr Brown's comments come after news that Mr Mugabe will not be present at today's summit in Lusaka, Zambia, where the 14 member-states of the Southern African Development Community will discuss the crisis.

Harare accused Britain of masterminding the Lusaka summit. Speaking about the SADC meeting, justice minister Patrick Chinamasa told the AFP news agency: "This summit is clearly sponsored by the British government. We heard about it from our British sources long before SADC made the announcement."