*Zimbabwe quits Commonwealth*

Zimbabwe says it is quitting the Commonwealth after the organisation extended its suspension of the southern African country for violating its democratic principles.

President Robert Mugabe's information minister says the suspension, renewed at a summit overnight in the Nigerian capital Abuja, proved that "racist leaders in Britain and Australia" had taken over the Commonwealth.

Talks on Zimbabwe had dominated the four-day Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), causing the worst split since South Africa's apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s and dividing its 54 members largely on colour lines.

Zimbabwe was suspended early last year on the grounds Mr Mugabe, who has ruled the country since independence in 1980, rigged his re-election in 2002 and persecuted his opponents.

Some African Commonwealth members lobbied hard for its readmission but failed to win the day.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had led the drive to keep Harare suspended, said it would send "a clear message to people in Zimbabwe that the Commonwealth is on the side of democracy and human rights".

The government in Harare said the leaders of Jamaica, Nigeria and South Africa called Mr Mugabe to urge him not to pull out, but to no avail.

"Accordingly, Zimbabwe has withdrawn its membership from the Commonwealth with immediate effect," it said.

"Our problem with Britain and Australia is over the land we took over from their white kith and kin to redistribute to the indigenous black people of this country," Information Minister Jonathan Moyo told the Reuters news agency.

"These racist leaders are using the Commonwealth to try to punish us."

Zimbabwe's main opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says Mr Mugabe had no right to quit the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth leaders will discuss Zimbabwe's decision to withdraw when the summit resumes tonight (Australian time).

A spokesman for the organisation denies suggestions the CHGOM has been a waste of time.

"It's early days, so we'll have to see what the next step is," Commonwealth spokesman Joel Kibazo told AFP.

"I am sure the leaders will try and talk about it ... and see what happens from there."

He says the Commonwealth will continue in its effort to return Zimbabwe to full membership of the body.

"The aim was not to push Zimbabwe, the aim was to say right, this is the way forward for you to return into the family of the Commonwealth.  It is something (Nigerian) President (Olusegun) Obasanjo will continue to work for," he said.

"What we want is the return of Zimbabwe into the Commonwealth."