The African Union has rejected calls from Britain and the US to put pressure on Zimbabwe to stop its demolition of illegal houses that has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.
An AU spokesman said it had many more serious problems to consider than Zimbabwe.
It comes after the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, described the situation in Zimbabwe as of 'serious international concern'.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, called on African leaders to speak out.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said it was crucial for other African states to get involved.
