By Tom Ashby and Andrew Cawthorne
Abuja - A divided Commonwealth appointed a six-nation task force on Friday to resolve a racially charged dispute between Western and African nations over the exclusion of Zimbabwe for rights abuses.
The six countries, split equally between foes and friends of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, have until Sunday to find common ground in the 54-nation club of mostly ex-British colonies encompassing one-third of the world's population.
The debate eclipsed other issues such as trade, terrorism and Aids at the start of the four-day biennial Commonwealth summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
But delegates said the Commonwealth had decided not to lift the suspension of another member, Pakistan, imposed in 1999 after a military coup which brought the then General Pervez Musharraf to power.
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They said that despite its cooperation in the US-led "war on terror", Pakistan would not be re-admitted until President Musharraf stepped down as head of the armed forces and addressed other Commonwealth demands for democratic and judicial reform.
In the case of Zimbabwe, Britain - which with Australia, Canada and New Zealand wants to keep the heat on its former colony - was optimistic the task force would not allow Harare back into the club.
"I hope and remain reasonably confident that the suspension will continue until they comply with what the Commonwealth set out in terms of rule of law, human rights and proper governance," British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters.
The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe last year because opposition groups and Western nations accused Mugabe of rigging his re-election and harassing opponents.
But some half dozen fellow African nations - including regional heavyweight South Africa - believe the sanction is not helping political reconciliation in Zimbabwe.
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