Abuja, Dec 05: Commonwealth leaders headed into a racially-charged row over the exclusion of Zimbabwe from the 54-member group as they gathered in the Nigerian capital for a summit starting today. Despite attempts by host President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria to prevent a split in the club of mostly former British colonies, key leaders stuck to entrenched positions over the Southern African country.

Zimbabwe was suspended last year on charges that President Robert Mugabe had rigged his re-election in 2002.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, aboard his plane to Abuja, said maintaining the suspension would ''send the right message of strong disapproval for what is happening in Zimbabwe''. His position was echoed by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who said it would be unacceptable to lift the punishment if Zimbabwe made no progress in answering Commonwealth demands for political dialogue and basic freedoms.

At the same time, a small but powerful group of Southern African states rejected Zimbabwe's exclusion and asked that it be allowed back immediately.

Bureau Report