Zimbabwe quits Commonwealth...

President Robert Mugabe made good his threat to withdraw Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth just hours after Prime Minister John Howard convinced the body to extend the African nation's suspension.

Mr Howard was a lone voice pushing a six-nation committee to continue Zimbabwe's suspension, and came back from the brink of a humiliating diplomatic defeat to sway the Commonwealth into maintaining its stand.

But hours later, President Mugabe responded by carrying out his threat to withdraw Zimbabwe from the 54-nation organisation, which the African leader earlier claimed had been hijacked by racists.

The Zimbabwean government said in a statement from Harare that Mr Mugabe had told the leaders of Jamaica, Nigeria and South Africa when they phoned him separately tonight that he did not accept the Commonwealth's position and was leaving the group immediately.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/08/1070732103731.html

no surprise here....
something needs to give cuz Zimbabwe is quickly going down the tubes...