LUSAKA African leaders on Wednesday rejected a tough draft declaration on Zimbabwe which accused Britain of trying to isolate and vilify its former colony.

South African President Thabo Mbeki told Reuters at the closing session of the annual summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) that a milder declaration pushed by Nigeria had been adopted instead.

"The declaration says that Britain and Zimbabwe need to get together and continue to search for a solution (to the land problem). That supersedes the ministerial draft," Mbeki said.

"The new declaration was promoted by Nigeria which felt that there was a need to continue the mediation which it started between Zimbabwe and Britain last year," Mbeki added.

The OAU's Council of Ministers had unanimously adopted the tough resolution in support of Zimbabwe recently, saying the country was seen as a victim of Western critics.

The draft statement had also named South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya and Zambia to a committee to support Zimbabwe in future talks with the European Union and other parties on land reform.

But the final declaration released recently made no reference to the resolution drafted by the foreign ministers.

It said the summit "reaffirmed that the land issue is central to ensuring durable peace, stability and economic development in Zimbabwe".

The OAU reiterated its demand "for Britain to honor its colonial obligation to fund the land settlement program in Zimbabwe in accordance with the Lancaster House agreement", which led to the country's independence in 1980.

The summit also called on Britain "to cooperate fully and enter into dialogue with the government of Zimbabwe with the purpose of finding a final solution to this colonial legacy".

Zimbabwe has been suffering an economic and political crisis since February last year when self-styled war veterans, encouraged by the state, seized hundreds of white-owned farms across the country.

The land chaos has disrupted farming operations and raised fears of food shortages. The country has run out of foreign exchange, while unemployment and inflation are at record levels.

Mugabe says Britain must pay compensation for the thousands of farms the state plans to seize and redistribute to Blacks.

But London has said it will not finance land reform amidst chaos and disregard for the rule of law.

Mugabe praised the OAU's declaration, saying it "strengthens our position and enhances our solidarity with our African brothers.

"We and the rest of Africa are now speaking in the same language in the matter of our position against Britain," Mugabe told Reuters.