Britain and the US have condemned Russia and China for vetoing a draft UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders, reports BBC.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the veto was incomprehensible. The US said it brought into question Russia's reliability as a G8 partner.
Zimbabwe and its main ally South Africa welcomed the result.
Russia and China defended their stance, saying the situation in Zimbabwe posed no threat to international stability.
The proposed measures had included an arms embargo and a travel ban for President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his key allies.
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu described the resolution as a Western plot and welcomed its rejection.
"We are happy that the United Nations principle of non-interference with member states of the United Nations has been brought to the understanding of the whole world," he said.
"Russia and China have only observed the principles of the United Nations. We... would like to thank those who helped defeat international racism disguised as multilateral action at the UN."
There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of Mr Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition.
The opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters, which left dozens dead and thousands injured and forced from their homes.
Russia and China said they opposed the resolution because the situation in Zimbabwe did not threaten international stability.
UK ambassador says the Security Council has failed Zimbabwe's people
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Russia's veto raised "questions about its reliability as a G8 partner".
