Agoracom

EU widens sanctions on Zimbabwe

To increase the pressure on President Robert Mugabe's regime, European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels decided to widen sanctions against Zimbabwe, by including travel bans and asset freezes on a larger circle of officials and supporters of Mugabe.

In all, 37 individuals have been banned from entering the EU, and activities of four "entities", probably major companies having links with the octogenarian leader, are frozen, reports quoting the EU's French presidency and an EU official said Tuesday.

This is in addition to the arms embargo, visa bans, and freezing of assets already imposed by the EU on more than 130 Zimbabwean officials, including Mugabe.

Additional U.S. sanctions against Zimbabwe's government are imminent, after a U.S.-sponsored UN resolution was vetoed by Russia and China earlier this month.

Mugabe is facing international resentment over his political manipulation that resulted in his being re-elected President in a presidential re-run, boycotted by the opposition for intimidating its members and leaders.

The signing of a deal Monday between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on the framework of a political dialog for a possible unity government did not influence the EU leaders into diluting their stance against Mugabe and his regime.