Britain resists SA pressure on Zimbabwe sanctions

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has insisted that Zimbabwe should make more progress before sanctions can be lifted, resisting pressure from South African President Jacob Zuma.

But as Zuma's state visit turned from royal pomp to hard-headed politics, the two leaders largely sought to paper over differences on European Union sanctions slapped on President Robert Mugabe and his closest cohorts.

On the second day of his visit, Zuma also tried to soften remarks in which he attacked sections of the British press critical of his polygamous marriages and the scandal surrounding a child he fathered.

Zimbabwe's fragile power-sharing government has failed to make major headway since it was installed a year ago, following mediation by neighbouring South Africa under Zuma's predecessor Thabo Mbeki.

Zuma, who is now the regional mediator on Zimbabwe, wants the EU sanctions on Mugabe's coterie lifted.

But Brown said he wanted to see progress on the ground first, as well as the results of commissions on human rights, press freedom and governance reforms, before they are reconsidered.

"We applaud the efforts that President Zuma is making to bring stability and change to Zimbabwe," he said at a joint press conference after the talks at his Downing Street office.

"We however must be absolutely sure that progress is being made."

Referring to the unity government between Mugabe and former rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Brown added: "We must be moving from what is a unity but transitional government to free and fair elections."

Zuma warned that the sanctions issue could be exploited politically by some in Harare.

"If the Zimbabwe issue is not moving forward, certainly some people could use sanctions as an excuse," he said, noting that some ministers are subject to travel bans and others not. "There is no equality in that kind of situation."

He added: "We are agreed that we should all put our heads together to find a solution in Zimbabwe to help Zimbabweans to forward.

"I think there has been a greater understanding of what we are trying to do in Zimbabwe."

Meanwhile Zuma sought to play down his earlier comments accusing somw British media of having a colonialist attitude in criticising his private life.

"It was in the context of how people judge other people's cultures and who gave authority to others to judge," Zuma said.

"It's not just the British media, it is the South African media as well that has views about specific things.

"We are not necessarily trying to condemn the British."

Later on Thursday, Zuma was to address members of parliament and invited guests at the Palace of Westminster, home to both Britain's lower and upper houses of parliament.

And in a bid to boost sporting ties between the two countries, he was also to visit the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Wembley Stadium, the home of English football.

The venue, where England beat African champions Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday night, will see Zuma kick a symbolic penalty on the pitch.

South Africa is less than 100 days away from hosting the football World Cup and Zuma will see presentations on England's bid to stage the 2018 tournament.

The day was to finish with a banquet at the Guildhall in the City of London, the financial heart of the British capital, thrown by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London.

Zuma started his three-day trip on Wednesday with a royal welcome from Queen Elizabeth II.

At the state banquet, attended by senior royals and political leaders, the queen paid tribute to South Africa's "extraordinary process of liberation and democratic renewal."