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Miliband defends Zimbabwe tactics Miliband defends Zimbabwe tactics
(about 1 hour later)
The foreign secretary has denied that Britain's attempt to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders was "ill-judged". Foreign Secretary David Miliband has denied that Britain's failed attempt to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders was "ill-judged".
David Miliband said the UK and US were "absolutely right" to put the sanctions resolution to a UN vote, even though it was vetoed by Russia and China. He said the UK and US were "absolutely right" to put the sanctions resolution to a UN vote, even though it was vetoed by Russia and China.
He said: "We've been arguing for a long time that we need real action, not words. It was right to test this out." "We've been arguing for a long time that we need real action, not words. It was right to test this out," he said.
The proposed sanctions had included an arms embargo and a travel ban for Robert Mugabe and 13 of his key allies. Sanctions could have included a travel ban for Robert Mugabe and 13 allies.
An arms embargo was also among the proposed sanctions.
Zimbabwe's UN ambassador said the UK and US had come up with unjustified reasons for the draft UN Security Council resolution.Zimbabwe's UN ambassador said the UK and US had come up with unjustified reasons for the draft UN Security Council resolution.
Boniface Chidyausiku said he was happy to see what he called the "machinations" of the US, the UK and France failing Boniface Chidyausiku said he was happy to see what he called the "machinations" of the US, the UK and France failing.
'Two fingers up''Two fingers up'
There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of Mr Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition.There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of Mr Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition.
The opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters. Opposition leder Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters.
Russia and China said they opposed the resolution because the situation in Zimbabwe did not threaten international stability.Russia and China said they opposed the resolution because the situation in Zimbabwe did not threaten international stability.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Miliband defended Britain's diplomatic tactics.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Miliband defended Britain's diplomatic tactics.
"I think it was absolutely right to go to a vote", he said. "I think it was absolutely right to go to a vote," he said.
UK ambassador says the Security Council has failed Zimbabwe's people
"The UN has been saying for a long time, 'This is a real problem, it's a real concern.' Everyone's been saying that."The UN has been saying for a long time, 'This is a real problem, it's a real concern.' Everyone's been saying that.
"But it's right that in the end people have to show their cards. And the vote yesterday showed that in the end, the Russians and the Chinese - I wouldn't quite say put two fingers up - but effectively, they blocked action.""But it's right that in the end people have to show their cards. And the vote yesterday showed that in the end, the Russians and the Chinese - I wouldn't quite say put two fingers up - but effectively, they blocked action."
Earlier, in a statement Mr Miliband said Russia's veto, in particular, was "incomprehensible" as President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to support the resolution at the most recent G8 meeting. Earlier, in a statement Mr Miliband said Russia's veto, in particular, was "incomprehensible" as President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to support the resolution at the recent meeting of G8 industrialised nations.
South Africa - which is hoping that President Mugabe and the opposition can reach a deal on a power-sharing - also voted against sanctions.South Africa - which is hoping that President Mugabe and the opposition can reach a deal on a power-sharing - also voted against sanctions.
On Saturday, Mr Mugabe's regime thanked South African President Thabo Mbeki for having "foiled the Western plot".On Saturday, Mr Mugabe's regime thanked South African President Thabo Mbeki for having "foiled the Western plot".
'No hope' The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water William HagueShadow foreign secretary
The UK ambassador said after the vote that the UN had failed in its duty. The UK ambassador said immediately after the vote on Friday that the UN had failed in its duty.
"The people of Zimbabwe need to be given hope that there is an end in sight to their suffering," said Sir John Sawers."The people of Zimbabwe need to be given hope that there is an end in sight to their suffering," said Sir John Sawers.
"The Security Council today has failed to offer them that hope.""The Security Council today has failed to offer them that hope."
The Conservatives also criticised the veto, and the government for being "over-confident" of Russia's support.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The excuse given by Russia and China, that the issue is no threat to world stability, does not hold water when millions of Zimbabwean refugees have fled to neighbouring countries.
"With the UN paralysed, the need for more serious and properly enforced EU sanctions is all the greater," he added.
The resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council.The resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council.
But the veto of any of the five permanent members is enough to defeat a resolution.But the veto of any of the five permanent members is enough to defeat a resolution.
'Other mechanisms''Other mechanisms'
Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than the 50% share needed to avoid a run-off.Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than the 50% share needed to avoid a run-off.
He pulled out of the run-off poll after many of his supporters were targeted, assaulted and even killed, leaving Mr Mugabe to win unopposed in the second round at the end of June.He pulled out of the run-off poll after many of his supporters were targeted, assaulted and even killed, leaving Mr Mugabe to win unopposed in the second round at the end of June.
Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said Friday's vote threw the future of the UN into question.Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said Friday's vote threw the future of the UN into question.
"We simply cannot permit these types of crimes and individuals to move forward and if the Security Council cannot act we need to be looking at other mechanisms," he said."We simply cannot permit these types of crimes and individuals to move forward and if the Security Council cannot act we need to be looking at other mechanisms," he said.