U.S. push for sanctions sees U.N. opposition

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By Betsy Pisik

UNITED NATIONS | The United States and its allies ran into a wall of opposition Thursday in an effort to impose new sanctions against Zimbabwe, with Russia, China and South Africa objecting.

A resolution sponsored by the United States and Britain would impose financial and travel restrictions against Zimbabwe's leadership in response to a flawed June 27 election in which President Robert Mugabe ran unopposed for a sixth term.

Russia, China and South Africa said they opposed the measure, fearing it would derail the fragile discussions between the Mugabe government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The U.S.-backed resolution also contains an arms embargo, noting that Zimbabwe faces no external threats.

A vote could come as early as Friday, though diplomats were unsure whether there is enough support in the 15-nation council to pass the measure.

It would need at least 9 votes to pass and no vetoes from any of the five major powers, which include China and Russia.

The Zimbabwe Mission to the United Nations on Wednesday sent a letter to Security Council members, urging them to reject the resolution because it will worsen the economic and political situation by removing "its elected, sitting and effective government."

Zimbabwe acknowledges in the 4-page letter that "some isolated and localized cases of violence have indeed occurred," but it accuses the opposition MDC of "premeditation" and the British of propaganda.

The letter said Zimbabwe's problems are strictly an internal matter that have no place on the council's agenda to promote international peace and security.

"Zimbabwe is not at war within itself and poses no threat to its neighbors or any country," the letter said.

Instead, the letter suggested, the once-stable agrarian nation is the victim of a "bilateral quarrel with Britain ... pertinent to the colonial legacy."

Belgium, Croatia, France and Italy co-sponsored the resolution, and Burkina Faso is expected to support it.

But Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam are expected to join Russia and China in opposing. Should Russia and China abstain, Latin American members Costa Rica and Panama would be needed for the required nine votes.

Earlier this week, Russia endorsed a statement by the Group of Eight industrial nations calling for targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who fell just short of the 50 percent needed to win the presidency in the first round of elections, dropped out of the June 27 runoff because of widespread attacks on his supporters by gangs of Mugabe backers.

The MDC said nearly 100 people were killed while hundreds of its supporters were hospitalized with broken bones, burns and other wounds.