FACTBOX-Sanctions on Zimbabwe
June 29 (Reuters) - Veteran Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe has won the country's single-candidate presidential run-off election, electoral authorities declared on Sunday.
President George W. Bush had on Saturday ordered U.S. sanctions against the "illegitimate" government of Zimbabwe, and called Friday's run-off a "sham".
Below are details of sanctions and restrictions already in place against Zimbabwe and other measures that could be considered.
VISA BANS AND ASSET FREEZES:
-- The European Union imposed a visa ban on President Mugabe and 19 of his top officials in 2002 because of Zimbabwe's treatment of observers sent to monitor presidential elections.
That has now been expanded to more than 100 of Mugabe's closest aides and family.
The European Union has also frozen the overseas assets of the Zimbabweans who are subject to its visa ban.
-- The United States first imposed sanctions in March 2003 and later widened them to apply to about 250 people accused of undermining democracy.
The U.S. sanctions also bar Americans from engaging in any transactions or dealings with them.
ARMS EMBARGOES:
-- The European Union has an embargo on the sale and supply of arms and technical advice and of equipment which could be used for internal repression in Zimbabwe.
The embargo also prohibits technical and financial assistance related to military activities.
-- The United States has a ban on transfers of defence items and services, and a suspension of non-humanitarian government-to-government assistance.
The United States welcomed an idea from Britain for a full arms embargo and President Bush said on Saturday he would press the United Nations to impose such an embargo.
-- A shipment of Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe was recalled in April after port workers in the region refused to unload it and Western countries urged a stop to arms supplies.
DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION:
-- The Commonwealth group of mainly former British colonies suspended Zimbabwe in early 2002 on the grounds that Mugabe had rigged his re-election and persecuted his opponents.
Zimbabwe formally withdrew from the 54-nation group in 2003 after the suspension was extended indefinitely.
-- The International Monetary Fund suspended technical assistance to Zimbabwe in 2002 over its failure to clear arrears and address its dire economic and social crisis.
It has averted expulsion by making small payments towards clearing arrears.
-- Britain's Queen Elizabeth stripped Mugabe of an honorary knighthood awarded in 1994. The Foreign Ministry said the action was taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe.
SPORT:
-- A 2007 cricket tour of Zimbabwe by Australia was cancelled on the orders of Australia's government.
-- Cricket South Africa, which had been one of Zimbabwe's strongest backers, suspended domestic agreements with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union on June 23.
-- Two days later, the England and Wales Cricket Board cancelled Zimbabwe's 2009 tour of England under instructions from the British government. The ECB said it had suspended all bilateral arrangements with Zimbabwe Cricket.
-- The International Cricket Council (ICC) was to meet for a six-day conference beginning on Sunday with Zimbabwe at the top of its agenda.
POSSIBLE NEW MEASURES:
-- President Bush said on Saturday the United States would press for U.N. action, including an arms embargo. Bush said he has instructed the Treasury and State departments to develop sanctions on Zimbabwe's government and its agencies.
-- Italy said it wants European Union foreign ministers to discuss recalling European ambassadors from Zimbabwe.
-- Britain said last week it was preparing tougher sanctions against specific members of the Zimbabwean government and urged world leaders to work together to remove Mugabe from power.
-- So far sanctions have targeted Zimbabwe's elite rather than the country as a whole. Few countries would back measures that could mean more pain for ordinary Zimbabweans.
Sources: Reuters/EU//www.state.gov
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