Italy recalls envoy in Zimbabwe for consultations

ROME (Reuters) - Italy on Monday recalled its ambassador in Zimbabwe to Rome for consultations following last week's re-election of President Robert Mugabe, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"This is a diplomatic step in order to better understand the situation. This does not mean that we are closing the embassy," a ministry spokesman said after the statement was issued.

Last week in Kyoto, Japan, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini proposed that European Union foreign ministers begin discussions to recall their ambassadors in protest at the run-off election in which Mugabe was the only candidate.

The suggestion was criticized by some but Monday's statement said Italy believed that such a group recall of envoys would be "politically significant".

Earlier on Monday, the White House said it would press for U.N. sanctions against Zimbabwe but also said the United States may act unilaterally against Mugabe's government.

Mugabe was re-elected in a vote condemned as violent and unfair by monitors.

A sanctions resolution being circulated by the United States at the United Nations on Monday called for an arms embargo against Zimbabwe as well as a freeze on the assets of individuals and firms.

African leaders are pushing Mugabe to open talks with the opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai on a transitional government.

(Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)