WELLINGTON - Foreign Minister Phil Goff on Thursday criticized the Commonwealth for failing to slap sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders for breaching "the most important values" of democratic government.

At a meeting in London on Wednesday, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which includes foreign ministers of eight nations, "expressed its deep concern over the continued violence, political intimidation and actions against the freedom and independence of the media" in Zimbabwe.

Britain and Australia had argued that Zimbabwe should be suspended from the Commonwealth's councils.

That would mean that no Zimbabwean representative could take part in any Commonwealth meeting, but would not amount to full suspension from the organization grouping Britain and its former colonies.

Goff agreed that Zimbabwe should have been suspended immediately from the Commonwealth and "smart" sanctions imposed on its leadership.

Such sanctions would include a ban on travel by the nation's leadership and their families, a freeze on assets held offshore and a selective ban of goods which could be used for repression.

Goff said he was "disappointed" that the Commonwealth's only concrete action against President Robert Mugabe's regime would be to send observers to oversee Zimbabwe's presidential elections March 9 and 10, in which Mugabe is seeking to extend his nearly 22-year grip on power.

The run-up to the vote has been marred by political violence, much of it sanctioned by the ruling party. "Sooner or later there has to be more than words. Action has got to be taken against a Commonwealth member that is violating basic principles of the Commonwealth," Goff told reporters.

"New Zealand has a firm view Zimbabwe should be suspended and also has the view in common with the European Union that smart sanctions should be imposed on the political elite," he added.

The sanctions would have to be imposed by the Commonwealth and the European Union working together, Goff said. Nampa-Sapa-AP