G8 Will Seek Zimbabwe Sanctions

The Group of Eight has agreed to seek UN sanctions against Zimbabwe after Robert Mugabe clung on to power in a presidential election widely condemned as a sham.

Significantly, Russia - which has previously been reluctant to back sanctions - supported the move.

Sky News foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said: "With Russia agreeing to support this at the UN it means a resolution should get through.

"That means the screws are really beginning to tighten on Robert Mugabe's regime."

A draft United Nations resolution seen by Sky News last week recommended the appointment of a UN special representative to Zimbabwe.

Marshall said: "The appointment of a UN representative would cause difficulty for South African president Thabo Mbeki who currently sees himself as the chief negotiator."

The UN resolution would also see a tight arms embargo introduced.

The G8, holding a three-day summit in northern Japan, was due to issue a formal statement on the political crisis in the southern African country after discussing the issue over dinner, Japanese officials said.

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said: "The need and the urgency was indicated for sanctions at the UN Security Council.

"Given that even Russia decided to go ahead, it seemed to me important to join in, voting unanimously."

The Italian premier had previously said he favoured a compromise deal between Mugabe and the Zimbabwean opposition rather than sanctions.

As the G8 ratcheted up pressure, Zimbabwe's state media reported that Mugabe's ruling party and the opposition were to resume talks under the mediation of Mr Mbeki.

However, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change quickly scotched the claim.

Party spokesman Nqobizitha Mlilo said: "The vampire nature of the regime has not changed, so how can you have dialogue?"

Mugabe was the only candidate in the June 27 run-off election after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out, citing state-sponsored violence against candidates and supporters of his MDC.

Mr Tsvangirai has said the opposition will not participate in any negotiations until Mugabe's government halts political violence against his supporters and accepts that the MDC won the election in the first round of voting on March 29.

Gordon Brown has said he wants sanctions to be accompanied by the appointment of a UN envoy to try to resolve the crisis.

He said: "It's pretty clear that I want sanctions against the Mugabe regime.

"I believe that we've got to say that they're illegitimate because of the way they are holding power with an election that is not seen as free or fair to anyone.

"Obviously we want to call for an end to violence and we want to get humanitarian aid to victims of the repression and the economic failures of the Mugabe regime."

Seven African leaders invited to the first day of the G8 summit on Monday expressed reservations about sanctions.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also head of the African Union, told US president George Bush that there was still room for discussions to end the crisis.