G8: The Group of Eight agreed yesterday to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe's leadership because of violence during the widely condemned re-election of President Robert Mugabe.
A number of G8 nations already have financial and travel restrictions on Mr Mugabe and his inner circle.
"We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for the violence," the G8 said in statement.
The leaders added that they did not accept the legitimacy of any government that did not reflect the will of Zimbabwe's people.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council prepared to discuss a US- and British-backed call to tighten financial restrictions on key members of Mr Mugabe's government, who could find it more difficult to move money, buy assets and travel overseas. But such a resolution could face stiff resistance from China or Russia, each of which has a veto in the council. Although Russia signed the G8 statement, Moscow has expressed misgivings about sanctions, which are also opposed by African nations.
France's UN ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, said he believed there would be enough security council votes to pass the sanctions resolution this week.
- (Reuters)