Britain says it does not recognize the disputed election victory of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe or the legitimacy of the vote. 

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London Thursday, that Zimbabwean voters were plainly denied their fundamental right to choose their leader. Britain is Zimbabwe's former colonial power. 

Meanwhile, a Commonwealth observer group has condemned the presidential election in Zimbabwe, a move that could lead to the country's ejection from the international body. 

The group, which includes Britain and its former colonies, issued a preliminary report on the controversial vote. The report said the election did not express the will of the electorate because, it said, thousands of opposition supporters were disenfranchised and intimidated. 

A final report is expected in the coming days. After that, a three-nation group: Nigeria, South Africa, and Australia, will recommend whether to impose sanctions. Observers say the Commonwealth's stance is much harsher than expected. 

The United States and other Western countries say the election was not free and fair. U.S. officials say Washington is considering further sanctions against the Mugabe government. 

Election officials said President Mugabe won re-election with about 55 percent of the vote, to 40 percent for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr. Tsvangirai has rejected the outcome, calling the process "massively rigged." The election took place Saturday through Monday. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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