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 30 August 2008 17:12 BST

UK "disappointed" over Zimbabwe sanctions failure

Saturday, 12 Jul 2008 09:02
The foreign secretary said Russia's veto of the resolution was "incomprehensible"
Foreign secretary David Miliband has said he is "very disappointed" over the failure of the United Nations (UN) to pass sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Plans to impose an arms embargo and travel restrictions on Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and 13 other members of his government were put forward at the UN Security Council, the world body's highest platform.

Resolutions passed by the 15-member body are binding upon member states and would have been imposed on the southern African country. But Russia and China's decisions to veto the proposal meant that the motion could not be passed.

In a strong statement, Mr Miliband said Russia had not stuck by President Medvedev's promise of approving the resolution while he could not understand China's opposition to the move.

"In particular, it will appear incomprehensible to the people of Zimbabwe that Russia, which committed itself at the G8 only a few days ago to take further steps including introducing financial and other sanctions, should today stand in the way of timely and decisive Security Council action," he added.

"Nor will they understand the Chinese vote."

Last month's presidential run-off in the country has been dismissed by the US, UK and the European Union as being unfair after incumbent president Robert Mugabe was the only real candidate on the ballot.

His only other challenger Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the election citing fears of intimidation and violence against his supporters as the reason for the boycott.

Talks on the formation of a national unity government in the country are currently taking place between Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition. End of story


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