The issue of Zimbabwe could see developed nations lose their collective vigour for plans to revive Africa, British Minister for Africa Valerie Amos said on Monday.

Foreign investors also feared the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) would not work, she told the National Press Club in Pretoria.

"The danger is that European Union and the G8 (industrialised nations) ... could lose enthusiasm for the collective approach which is at the heart of Nepad."

Amos is on a week-long visit in South Africa for talks with President Thabo Mbeki, government ministers, and other political leaders.

She said events in Zimbabwe made it much more difficult to promote Nepad.

The question of whether the peer review mechanism under Nepad could really put pressure on Zimbabwe was constantly being asked.

"What they (foreign investors) see is such low-key pressure being put on Zimbabwe ... that they think Nepad is a lost cause."

Another negative was the fact that Zimbabwe paid little attention to whatever pressure was being applied.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe rejected criticism on Friday of a reported police crackdown on hundreds of people during a stayaway organised by the Movement for Democratic Change.

He reportedly said he would not seek the approval of outsiders to enforce law and order.

This came two days after Mbeki said South Africa had told Zimbabwe it would not agree with actions that denied Zimbabweans the right to protest peacefully.

Amos said the comments by Mbeki and others "stating absolutely clear their concerns" was an important dimension in efforts to get political dialogue in Zimbabwe underway.

On a recent Commonwealth decision to extend sanctions against Zimbabwe, she said the body had no other choice.

Commonwealth heads of state would review the matter when they would meet again in December.

Amos sought to stress Zimbabwe would not be allowed to deflect the United Kingdom from supporting Nepad, or from continuing its partnership with South Africa on the plan.

She denied her visit was aimed at putting pressure on South Africa. Discussions would focus on differences as well as areas of agreement.

"I don't see it any way as being about applying pressure, but about having a grown-up, mature discussion with one of our closest allies."

Amos said the UK's involvement in the Iraqi would not effect on its commitment to the continent.

"Prime Minister Tony Blair's determination to work with Africa to help it help itself is as strong now as it has ever been."

South Africa and most other countries on the continent oppose the war on Iraq.

Amos said there was nothing imperialistic about the action by the Unites States and the UK against Iraq.

"If the US or the UK simply wanted to get their hands on cheap oil ... we could have cut a deal with them without putting any of our soldiers in harm's way."

Both countries had stated clearly that oil fields would be returned to the Iraqi people after the war -- and that the United Nations should oversee the reconstruction of Iraq.

"(UN) resolutions are the legal basis for the actions which the US and the UK have taken," Amos said - Sapa