It now appears as if the UK is spoiling for a fight with Zimbabwe (Samson, UK). Brown's stance now looks more like a personal vendetta. Since the UN has vetoed sanctions against Zim, surely going via the EU route is illegal.Brown and Milliband should change track and dialogue with Zim instead.

Davis, Manchester,

Brown is using Zimbabwe as a whipping boy to try and divert attention from his myriad of domestic problems. Both the Zimbabwean and British populations are suffering as a result.
Brown should stick to the domestic agenda and leave ZiMS to solve their own problems without outside interference.

Davis, Manchester,

Before solving the worlds problems can Gordon Clown start in his second home, England. On his past performance any sanctions will end up a shambles

rob, ashbourne, uk

MR Brown, Fix Britain before expending time, energy and money on a place Britain threw away. It is an independent sovereign country. Let Africa and the ICC in the Hague handle it. China holds sway now in that country. Let Barclays, Anglo American, and others fend for themselves it is their choice.

Alexander , victoria, Seychelles.

Stephanie King, methinks you doth protest too much. This is an article about Zimbabwe, not about UK. If you're unhappy with Gordon Brown, you can vote him out again in a couple of years if you wish, and he'll go. The Zimbabweans don't have that luxury!

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

no suprise that russia and china vetoed the resolution at the un. had they supported it, this might have created a precedent which would be against their interests. much of the mugabe system of democracy is endemic in both russia and china.

philip smith, seaford, ENGLAND

Was it not Wilson who handed Mugabe Zimbabwe on a plate? Old Labour. Now ZaNuLab is trying to take it away from him. And with Russia and China behind him plus half of the AU, he is winning hands down. Just another Calamity Brown cock-up.

M. Cawdery, CRAIGAVON, Co. UK, EU.

A good blow to neo-colonialism of course! Milliband and Gordon Brown can lecture Black Africans and create stooges in Africa but this policy will fail as it is failing in the Middle East! When will Gordon Brown listen that the threat to his own premiership is the current economic collapse?

Simon Namnyak, London, England

"A military strike needs to be launched from a base. Perhaps you could suggest one that is practical and available."

Duncan McGregor, Melbourne, Australia

You may recall that it was "impractical" for Britain to launch a military strike against Argentina in the Falklands: "He who dares...wins!"

Garth Strong, Houston, USA

Brown is using Mugabe to deflect attention from his performance in the UK.
He can order UK companies out of Zimbabwe and what will he get? UK economy will lose and other countries will step in.

savo, london, uk

Russia and China accused of double dealing for using their veto .Similar to what Brown did over the lisbon treaty.

Julie Goodwin, Chesterfield, UK

Why are we Britain SO obsessed with Zimbabwe?

Is it really about human rights, or about we could not let go of our white-dominated past of Rhodesia?

We don't seem to pursue women's basic rights, let alone lack of universal suffrage in Saudi Arabia with the same eager.

Selective justice?!

Ewan Gower, Glasgow, UK

altogether an unfortunate demonstration of political and diplomatic ineptitude, followed by cringingly embarrassing attempts at justification

tina, innsbruck, austria

Russia and China now also have blood on their hands, but they will not lose a moment of sleep over it. They have no compassion, no humanity.

Garth Strong: a military strike needs to be launched from a base. Perhaps you could suggest one that is practical and available.

Duncan McGregor, Melbourne, Australia

No Norman Tomlinson.
The people of Zimbabwe did not want Mugabe.
Britain wanted Ian Smith out at all costs and Mugabe was forced on them.
As Ian Smith said "Mugabe is not fit to run this country, as time will tell"
... and Rhodesians worldwide are now saying "Told you so"

RogerK, Briouze, France

I cannot believe what I am reading in these comments. Standing up against a tyrant who murders, staves and rapes to stay in power is hardly spoiling for a fight. Keep your eye on the facts. This is a multicultural world with differing points of view, but murder is murder no matter where you are from

Alasdair , Malvern, UK

This humiliation shows Gordon Brown's lack of leadership and that no one respects him, even other heads of state. As for David Milliband he is naive and immature, completely out of his depth. The veto was a forgone conclusion. The threat of sanctions should be used to drive the negotiations.

Nic, London, UK

Interesting, how plan "B" involves the EU, (yes the hated EU) and the USA working together to impose sanction on Mugabe.

A pity the UK government did not think of that before trying to act like a stand alone world power.

Bobby, London, UK

Not spoiling for a fight with Zimbabwe but standing up to murdering, thieving bullys of the first waters. If no one ever stands up the bullys just get emboldened and it will turn into another Rwanda or Congo. Is that what we want? Should we have turned our backs on the Nazis? Same thing.

Susan, Dallas , USA

Sanctions are a waste of time so long as Mbeki is holding Mugabe's hand. Freeze monetary aid to SADC. Take away the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Stop foreign currency going in from exiles so that Mugabe cannot pay is 'generals'. Cut the talk and take positive action.

Patricia, Cape Town, S Africa

Is there anything that JonahBrown has not ruined with his touch?Everywhere he goes and everything he does is a disaster! He goes begging to OPEC for extra oil and the price goes up! He has made a complete mess of Zimbabwe and has managed to alienate even our close allies and make enemies everywhere!

Stephanie King, larnaca, Cyprus

The people of Zimbabwe wanted Independence in April 1980 - the people of Zimbabwe wanted Robert Mugabe - NOT - Ian Douglas Smith !

In July 2008 - the people of Zimbabwe have got what they wanted, and as an Ex-Rhodesian - I'm absolutely overjoyed !

"Oh! .. Come sing a song of joy ! "

Norman Tomlinsom, Lancaster, North West England

Amazing how the ex-communist nations are still causing their vile selfish trouble despite their conversion to capitalism. We need a new United Nations with only quality democracies, and not a WTO but a DTO whose members only trade with each other. Let the dictatorships just trade with each other.

R Carolus, Nairobi,

"Curbs" against Mugabe are a waste of time and effort. Good for show, but that's about all.

Brown should have had the guts to take a swift, surgical military strike. He would have won worldwide respect.

Curbs against Gordon Brown may, however, have some beneficial effects for Britain.

Garth Strong, Houston, USA

America and Britain are acting like they have a vandetta against Robert Mugabe.....Their actions are really beginning to look awkward and bizzare....

Edward Fisher, Chicago, USA

Gordon Brown has no chance of winning over Russia and China over Zimbabwe, so the outcome may now be in the hands of a newly elected Government in Britain in 2010. Until then...........

Ian Payne, walsall,

It seem's like Britain is spoling for a fight with Zimbabwe.

Samson, London, UK