The Commonwealth has said it is dismayed by the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's decision to pull out of the group.
Mr Mugabe withdrew his country from the Commonwealth after a decision by other member states not to lift Zimbabwe's suspension from the body.
The decision was made at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
A special panel of six member states had spent three days trying to convince Mr Mugabe to remain within the grouping, but he said he would accept nothing less than a return to full membership.
The suspension was ordered after a widely criticised election in Zimbabwe last year.
Zimbabwean government and opposition representatives have blamed the Commonwealth for the impasse.
The President of the Zimbabwean Union of Democrats, Margaret Dongo, says the Commonwealth states should learn to separate the people and their president.
Howard defends Commonwealth decision
The Australian Prime Minister John Howard defended the Commonwealth's decision to extend the suspension of Zimbabwe from the group and set up a committee to review its progress to democracy.
He said the member states knew President Robert Mugabe would pull out, but it was the only decision which was in line with Commonwealth standards.
