The United States and Britain Thursday strongly condemned the passage by Zimbabwe's parliament of a tough law limiting the freedoms of the independent and foreign press ahead of crucial presidential elections.

The joint rebuke came after Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw met here and discussed possible punitive measures they might take against Zimbabwe.

"I wholly condemn the passage of these press laws," Straw said at a news conference with Powell after their talks.

"I find it almost impossible to comprehend how free and fair elections can be held in Zimbabwe when such laws have been passed."

Straw added passage of the law would be "a matter that will have to be weighed very carefully in the balance by the European Union to

decide whether the sanctions, which in principle were decided upon earlier this week, ought to be triggered."

EU foreign ministers on Monday gave Zimbabwe until February 3 to accept observers for the polls or face sanctions, including a suspension of EU aid, as well as travel bans and the freezing of assets for President Robert Mugabe and 20 others in his inner circle.

Powell echoed Straw's remarks and noted his own past criticism of Mugabe, adding Washington is "in close coordination with our British colleagues and with others as to what action might be appropriate as we move forward."

The media bill requires journalists to seek accreditation every year from a panel hand-picked by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, which has wide-ranging powers of discretion.

Foreigners are already unable to work full-time in Zimbabwe.

The law forbids journalists from reporting on meetings of the cabinet or other government bodies and those who violate its provisions face stiff fines and up to two years in prison.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) condemned the new law, calling it the latest attempt by Mugabe to retain power, following a recently approved security law and changes to electoral rules.

MDC deputies, however, neither voted nor resisted the media bill as it sailed through parliament, despite having engaged in a fierce five-hour debate before passage.

The tough new security law, muscled through parliament earlier this month, effectively outlaws political meetings and makes criticism of the president a criminal offence.