European Union foreign ministers have failed to agree a new package of sanctions against Zimbabwe's leader.
After meeting today in Brussels, they referred the issue to EU ambassadors for further discussion.
Current sanctions against President Robert Mugabe are due to expire on 18 February. Mr Mugabe is currently banned from entering the European Union because of doubts about the legitimacy of his re-election last year.
France wants Mr Mugabe to come to Paris next month for a summit, but Britain and several other countries have objected.
A spokesman for Greece's EU Presidency said that they would 'try to get a consensus' among the ambassadors.
