Brown brandishes images of Zimbabwean torture victims to unite world leaders against Mugabe

The Premier showed the graphic images to other G8 leaders before they agreed to back fresh sanctions against the tyrant.

In a highly unusual move, Mr Brown brandished pictures released by the opposition MDC of Joshua Bakacheza's badly disfigured corpse.

Russia - which traditionally objects to any interference in the affairs of other nations - dramatically caved in and agreed to unite the G8 in condemnation of Mr Mugabe.

The persuader: Gordon Brown with French president Nicolas Sarkozy. The Prime Minsiter showed G* leaders a photograph of a murdered MDC driver that is too horrific to print

The United States is now expected to table a motion on behalf of G8 countries at the United Nations within days, which could bring in sanctions and see the appointment of a UN special envoy to Zimbabwe.

He would effectively sideline the widely- criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki and attempt to broker an exit for Mugabe.

Mr Brown hailed the breakthrough at the summit on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, saying: 'This is the strongest statement. It shows the unanimity of the international community reflecting the outrage people feel about the violence and intimidation and the illegitimate holding of power by the Mugabe government.

'What we've agreed is that we will send a United Nations envoy to press for change in Zimbabwe.

'What we have also agreed is financial and other sanctions will be imposed on members of the Zimbabwe regime.

Failure: The efforts of South African president Thabo Mbeki, right, to quietly persuade his Zimbabwean counterpart to negotiate with the opposition have not succeeded

'To bring together Russia, France, Germany, Italy, America and Canada, all the G8 countries, with Japan, in putting this statement forward shows that the whole international community is now not prepared to accept an illegitimate government.'

Although Mr Brown presented tighter sanctions as a done deal, any UN resolution would still have to be approved by China, which has a veto on the Security Council and is a longtime ally of Zimbabwe.

Sending a UN envoy is also a matter for the UN secretary general, not something that can be decided by the G8.

Nevertheless, the agreement of all G8 leaders will increase pressure on Mr Mugabe following his declared victory 'Innocent people murdered' last month in an election campaign marred by violence and the withdrawal of his only rival over brutality against his supporters.

The body of Mr Bakacheza, an MDC driver, was discovered four days ago, in a secluded area on a farm in Beatrice, 20 miles outside Harare, ten days after he was abducted.

Threat: The head of Zimbabwe Central Intelligence Happyton Bonyongwe, left, with Constantine Chiwenga, the commander of the Zimbabwean Army, centre, with Mugabe

On the afternoon of June 25, together with another MDC activist, Tendai Chidziwo, Mr
Bakacheza was driving along the Harare-Mututu highway.

They were helping the widow of murdered MDC activist, Tonderai Ndira, to move her furniture from her home in Mabvuku, a township area on the outskirts of Harare, where she no longer felt safe. 

Three unmarked trucks ambushed them and 16 men armed with AK assault rifles took over the vehicle, throwing out Mr Ndira's widow and her two children.

According to Mr Chidziwo, they were taken to the farm in Beatrice, where they were tortured, beaten and interrogated. Mr Bakacheza was shot three times and Chidziwo once. They were left for dead, but Mr Chidziwo survived.

A Downing Street source said: 'Joshua is just one of the many innocent people murdered by Mugabe's thugs in recent weeks.

'But by highlighting the way he was brutally murdered while helping a widow and her children, the Prime Minister was telling other leaders that this is a tragedy which is going on right now as they sit talking, and every day we wait to act, more innocent people will suffer.'