Bush orders sanctions against 'illegitimate' Zimbabwe govt

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080628/pl_afp/zimbabwevoteussanction

Bush orders sanctions against 'illegitimate' Zimbabwe govt by Alice Ritchie
Sat Jun 28, 3:13 PM ET



US President George W. Bush said Saturday he had directed that sanctions be drawn up against the "illegitimate" government of Zimbabwe after a run-off vote boycotted by the opposition.

He said the United States would also be pressing for "strong action" at the United Nations, including an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and travel ban on officials from Robert Mugabe's regime, following Friday's "sham election."

"Given the Mugabe regime's blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean people's democratic will and human rights, I am instructing the Secretaries of State and Treasury to develop sanctions against this illegitimate government of Zimbabwe and those who support it," Bush said in a statement.

"We will press for strong action by the United Nations, including an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and travel ban on regime officials. We will continue to work closely with the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and other world leaders to resolve this crisis."

Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, was the only candidate in Friday's run-off vote. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out after a wave of deadly attacks on his supporters.

Tsvangirai had beaten Mugabe in the March first round, but fell short of the majority needed to secure a clear victory. Government sources said Mugabe is now expected to be inaugurated for a new term as president on Sunday.

Bush said the international community had condemned the regime's "ruthless campaign of politically-motivated violence and intimidation" during the elections and made clear Friday's run-off "was in no way free and fair."

He said that "any legitimate government of Zimbabwe must represent the interests of all its citizens and the outcome of the March 29 elections," and said the United States stood ready to support such a government with aid.

"In the meantime, we will continue to support the people of Zimbabwe by providing food assistance to more than one million people and AIDS treatment to more than 40,000 people."

The current US sanctions against Zimbabwe are targeted at regime officials, including Mugabe, and Bush directed officials Saturday to build on the current list of more than 170 people and entities.

For the first time, sanctions could also be added against the government of Zimbabwe as an entity, White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore told AFP.

The move follows an announcement by Britain this week that it would be bolstering its sanctions against Zimbabwe, specifically targeting the "cabal" around Mugabe in a bid to trigger a "peaceful transition" of power.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said earlier Saturday in Seoul that Washington wanted to introduce a UN resolution next week sending a "strong message of deterrence" to Mugabe over his alleged intimidation and violence.

Her comments came after the UN failed to agree Friday on a statement declaring the run-off illegitimate in the face of South African opposition, merely issuing an oral statement of regret that the election had taken place.

US officials accompanying Rice said that a draft resolution being prepared by the United States, Britain and others would be informally circulated among UN Security Council members at the weekend.

The United States has also urged heads of state from the African Union, who are due to meet next week in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, to act.
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"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't." -General George S. Patton

Psalm 82-8: Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You inherit all the nations.