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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| G8 to move against Mugabe allies | G8 to move against Mugabe allies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| G8 leaders meeting in Japan have said they will seek targeted sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean government over last month's polls. | G8 leaders meeting in Japan have said they will seek targeted sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean government over last month's polls. |
| Their call for financial and other measures against individuals "responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe marks a change of stance for Russia. | Their call for financial and other measures against individuals "responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe marks a change of stance for Russia. |
| The G8 also called for a special UN Security Council envoy to report on the situation in Zimbabwe and help mediate. African leaders earlier told the G8they opposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. | |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki, the chief regional negotiator on Zimbabwe who has been urging a unity government, reportedly told G8 leaders that UN sanctions could lead to civil war. | South African President Thabo Mbeki, the chief regional negotiator on Zimbabwe who has been urging a unity government, reportedly told G8 leaders that UN sanctions could lead to civil war. |
| Senegal's leader, Abdoulaye Wade, told the AFP news agency: "I said that sanctions... wouldn't change the regime." | Senegal's leader, Abdoulaye Wade, told the AFP news agency: "I said that sanctions... wouldn't change the regime." |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe won re-election after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pulled out of a June run-off presidential vote, citing state-sponsored violence. | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe won re-election after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pulled out of a June run-off presidential vote, citing state-sponsored violence. |
| Violence | Violence |
| Tuesday's announcement by leaders of the G8 group of industrialised nations followed a change of position from Russia, which had previously refused to support such sanctions. | Tuesday's announcement by leaders of the G8 group of industrialised nations followed a change of position from Russia, which had previously refused to support such sanctions. |
| We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against individuals responsible for violence G8 leaders' statement | We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against individuals responsible for violence G8 leaders' statement |
| In a statement, the G8 leaders express "grave concern" about the situation in Zimbabwe and urge the government to "work with the opposition to achieve a prompt, peaceful resolution of the crisis". | In a statement, the G8 leaders express "grave concern" about the situation in Zimbabwe and urge the government to "work with the opposition to achieve a prompt, peaceful resolution of the crisis". |
| They say they will work with the African Union, regional bloc Sadc, the UN and other bodies, and urge the appointment of a UN envoy to bolster regional mediation efforts. | They say they will work with the African Union, regional bloc Sadc, the UN and other bodies, and urge the appointment of a UN envoy to bolster regional mediation efforts. |
| "We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against individuals responsible for violence [in Zimbabwe]," the statement adds. | "We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against individuals responsible for violence [in Zimbabwe]," the statement adds. |
| The BBC's James Robbins in Hokkaido, Japan, says the G8 has said it does not accept the legitimacy of a government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people. | The BBC's James Robbins in Hokkaido, Japan, says the G8 has said it does not accept the legitimacy of a government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people. |
| The move comes against strong opposition from several African leaders, including Mr Mbeki, our correspondent says. | The move comes against strong opposition from several African leaders, including Mr Mbeki, our correspondent says. |
| By calling for a UN representative to be involved in the mediation process, the G8 leaders are making it clear that they do not think Mr Mbeki's efforts have been adequate, he says. | By calling for a UN representative to be involved in the mediation process, the G8 leaders are making it clear that they do not think Mr Mbeki's efforts have been adequate, he says. |
| Mr Mbeki may have to work alongside a UN envoy in mediation efforts | Mr Mbeki may have to work alongside a UN envoy in mediation efforts |
| Mr Mbeki is now likely to have to work alongside the UN in efforts to ensure that Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, has a leading role in any future government. | Mr Mbeki is now likely to have to work alongside the UN in efforts to ensure that Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, has a leading role in any future government. |
| Diplomats say they expect a sanctions package to be presented to the United Nations by the weekend and that Russia will not oppose the measures, our correspondent adds. | Diplomats say they expect a sanctions package to be presented to the United Nations by the weekend and that Russia will not oppose the measures, our correspondent adds. |
| The US and UK have been pushing for the UN Security Council to tighten targeted sanctions this week. | The US and UK have been pushing for the UN Security Council to tighten targeted sanctions this week. |
| The BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the US has already tabled a resolution calling for an arms embargo against Zimbabwe, and a travel ban and asset freeze on Mr Mugabe and 11 top Zimbabwean officials. | The BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the US has already tabled a resolution calling for an arms embargo against Zimbabwe, and a travel ban and asset freeze on Mr Mugabe and 11 top Zimbabwean officials. |
| France's ambassador to the UN has told the BBC he believes those in favour of the resolution have the nine votes out of 15 needed to pass it. | France's ambassador to the UN has told the BBC he believes those in favour of the resolution have the nine votes out of 15 needed to pass it. |
| Five nations have the power to block it by voting no, among them China and Russia who, along with South Africa, have reservations about sanctions against Zimbabwe - however, they could abstain, our correspondent adds. | Five nations have the power to block it by voting no, among them China and Russia who, along with South Africa, have reservations about sanctions against Zimbabwe - however, they could abstain, our correspondent adds. |
| 'Interference' | 'Interference' |
| On Monday, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who also heads the African Union, said African leaders favoured some sort of power-sharing government. | On Monday, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who also heads the African Union, said African leaders favoured some sort of power-sharing government. |
| Isolating and demonising Zimbabwe is not in the best interests of anyone Bright MatongaZimbabwe's deputy information minister | Isolating and demonising Zimbabwe is not in the best interests of anyone Bright MatongaZimbabwe's deputy information minister |
| Meanwhile, the opposition MDC has denied reports it is ready to resume talks with the government. | Meanwhile, the opposition MDC has denied reports it is ready to resume talks with the government. |
| The party says 5,000 of its members are missing and more than 100 of its supporters have been murdered since a first round of elections in March. | The party says 5,000 of its members are missing and more than 100 of its supporters have been murdered since a first round of elections in March. |
| The African Union last week ignored calls to condemn Mr Mugabe's re-election in last month's second round of voting and called for a power-sharing government to be set up. | The African Union last week ignored calls to condemn Mr Mugabe's re-election in last month's second round of voting and called for a power-sharing government to be set up. |
| However, a number of African states have criticised the Zimbabwean authorities, among them neighbouring Botswana. | However, a number of African states have criticised the Zimbabwean authorities, among them neighbouring Botswana. |
| The Zimbabwean government blames interference from Western countries for delaying a solution to the country's political impasse. | The Zimbabwean government blames interference from Western countries for delaying a solution to the country's political impasse. |
| "It is the UK that is pushing for sanctions, but isolating and demonising Zimbabwe is not in the best interests of anyone. They should treat Zimbabwe as a partner rather than an enemy," South Africa's News24 website quotes Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga as saying. | "It is the UK that is pushing for sanctions, but isolating and demonising Zimbabwe is not in the best interests of anyone. They should treat Zimbabwe as a partner rather than an enemy," South Africa's News24 website quotes Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga as saying. |