Brown threatens tougher sanctions

Mr Brown said the UK would table proposals to the EU "in the next few days" to extend travel and financial sanctions against leading members of Mr Mugabe's regime.

He had already declared he would not attend the Europe-Africa summit in Lisbon in December if the Zimbabwean President was present.

EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel backed Mr Brown, demanding a ban on Mr Mugabe from the summit. He told the EU politix website: "I fully understand and sympathise with those who are saying Mugabe should not attend the summit. I too share their concerns and, yes, I too would prefer it if Mugabe was not there."

Mr Brown's spokesman said the Prime Minister had had discussions with other EU leaders before publicly threatening his boycott in protest at the plight of Zimbabwe, and in the face of continuing European travel sanctions imposed on Mr Mugabe and 131 members of his Zanu-PF regime.

"The Prime Minister is saying that the assumption is that Robert Mugabe will attend, and on that basis he (Mr Brown) would not attend," said the spokesman.

Asked if the Prime Minister would attend the summit if another member of the Mugabe regime represented Zimbabwe, the spokesman said: "That would be a different circumstance.

"The issue in relation to Robert Mugabe is that what we do not want to do is to do anything that diverts attention from the important issues that the EU Africa summit needs to address."

Robert Mugabe's presence would be seen, in itself, as a diversion, the spokesman said.

While moving to isolate Zimbabwe's government, Downing Street confirmed Britain is to give more British aid money for the country. Already Zimbabwe's second biggest donor, the UK will provide an additional £8 million to be delivered through the World Food Programme.