Jack Straw has rejected suggestions that there should be military intervention in Zimbabwe.

Speaking during a debate on the issue, Straw told the Commons that the government was doing everything it reasonably could to put pressure on Robert Mugabe's regime.

He also reminded Conservative MPs demanding tougher action that "20,000 people were slaughtered in Zimbabwe in the 1980s, which went largely unremarked by the British government of the day".

Tory MP Nick Gibb asked why the government was not considering the use of force to resolve the situation in the country.

He reminded the foreign secretary that the prime minister had "effectively announced a new doctrine of intervention where states oppress and brutalise their people".

Straw said there was no possibility of a military operation to remove Mugabe.

"Our judgement is that taking it to the [UN]security council and failing would undermine what we all want which is a democratic and free Zimbabwe," he said.

He added that it had taken a great deal of hard work by the government to convince the international community to impose wide-ranging sanctions on the country.

"We have hit Mugabe where it hurts, freezing his assets and restricting his movements and those of his henchmen," Straw said.

He said that the idea that "we as a former colonial power could take action beyond that is pie in the sky and would feed the Mugabe propaganda that we are still after a colonial presence".

He added that the situation was "a test for Africa" rather than for Britain.

Aid

Straw also reminded the house that the government had given £67 million in humanitarian and food aid since 2001, with £26.5 million on fighting Aids, and was actively involved in supporting those working for peaceful change.

The foreign secretary indicated that this was realistically all the government could do.

He added that the Conservatives, while criticising the government for its inaction, had failed to produce any alternative plans.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram slammed the "inertia" of the international community that was leading to a "victory for despotism".

He added that he was not advocating a military solution.