The United States appears to have backed away from statements made earlier this week that it is working with Southern African countries to isolate Zimbabwe.

The United States continues to consult with countries in the region... to foster development of democratic processes in Zimbabwe

Philip Reeker, US State Department

South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique had denied their involvement in any such plan.

A State Department spokesman said on Thursday that the US was consulting with countries in the region regarding Zimbabwe - but made no mention of isolation.

In the original statement on Tuesday, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner said Washington no longer recognised Robert Mugabe as a legitimate leader.

Mr Kansteiner added that the US was working with Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa on strategies to isolate Mr Mugabe and force change in Zimbabwe.

Subtle shift

Those comments were not echoed in the countries mentioned.

Specifically, South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said there could never be "a policy for South Africa to replace any government (or) to discuss with anybody about how to replace another government."

Land reform is Mugabe's major policy

Mozambique also denied any involvement.

The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says there was a subtle shift in tone on Thursday.

State Department spokesman Phillip Reeker merely talked of "consulting with countries in the region" with a view to "fostering the development of democratic processes".

Zimbabwe's president had seized upon the earlier remarks as evidence of racism.

The Bush administration insists that Mr Mugabe must show greater respect for human rights and the rule of law.

It describes as appalling the policy of shutting down white-owned farms when millions of people face the prospect of starvation.

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But for good measure the State Department has reiterated that the future of Zimbabwe is for the people of that country to decide.

'Madness'

On Wednesday, the most senior US aid official also launched a blistering attack on the policies of President Mugabe.

At least 215 white farmers have been arrested

These risk turning a drought into a famine affecting half the population - six million people - said Andrew Natsios, head of the United States Agency for International Aid (USAid).

He blamed several different policies for worsening the food crisis:

• Evicting white farmers from their land
• Controlling the price of maize - meaning businesses are not importing maize into Zimbabwe for sale
• Controlling the exchange rate, which has the same effect

"It is madness to arrest commercial farmers in the middle of a drought, when they could grow food to save people from starvation," he said.