FACTBOX: Sanctions on Zimbabwe

Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:35am EDT
 
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(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 defense 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:  Continued...

 

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