Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's exit from a run-off election against President Robert Mugabe has handed power to Mugabe indefinitely.

Mr Tsvangirai said a free and fair poll was impossible in the current climate of violence.

Mugabe's declaration that "only God can remove me from office" is a signal to the rest of the world that he is not interested in free and fair politics.

Mugabe clearly plans to continue his iron-fisted rule, quashing any opposition through violence, murder and oppression, as he has done since taking office in 1980.

Mr Tsvangirai's departure is disappointing for the international community. As long as there was an opposition party prepared to work towards democracy in Zimbabwe, hope remained that 87-year-old Mugabe would one day admit defeat.

Hope of democratic future for Zimbabweans - or at the very least for a regime that will govern for the people - now rests with international intervention.

But that won't happen lightly either.

Mr Tsvangirai has called on the United Nations and the African Union to intervene. US president George Bush has indicated he is prepared to talk about future actions with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to discuss what

steps can be taken to restore order. Any discussions through the UN security council, however, are likely to be difficult and protracted. Sactioned international intervention, if it were to happen at all, would be a long way down

the track.

For Australia's part, we will be considering intensifying financial and travel sanctions. That in itself will not quell Mugabe's penchant for violence.

In the short term, the best hope, slim though it may be, rests with Mugabe's fellow African leaders bringing pressure to bear on their colleague.

A group of former African presidents have already signed a petition calling for an end to Mugabe's reign of terror in Zimbabwe.

South African president Thabo Mbeki has had ongoing discussions with Mugabe, but with the support of fellow leaders, is in the best position to bring increasing pressure.

Until someone takes a stand, Mugabe will continue his violent ways and innocent Zimbabweans will continue to die.