Australia to boost sanctions against Zimbabwe

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's government said on Monday it was looking to increase sanctions against Zimbabwe and called on African nations to do more against the "brutal" regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he sympathized with Zimbabwe's leading opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai over his decision to pull out of a June 27 presidential vote due to fears of violence, intimidation and ballot rigging.

"That is how disgraceful the situation in Zimbabwe has become under Robert Mugabe," Rudd told Australia's parliament on Monday.

"There can be no legitimacy to an election stolen by the Mugabe regime, through violence and terror."

Tsvangirai has called for international intervention in Zimbabwe after the Mugabe regime said he would not be permitted to take office even if he won this week's presidential run-off.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia was now working on additional sanctions to build on current financial restrictions and visa bans imposed on supporters and associates of the Mugabe regime in 2006, as well as an arms sales embargo.

"We are looking at whether we can enhance any of those and whether there are sanctions that we can bring to bear in other areas," Smith told Australian radio.

"What it does do now is it places maximum pressure on the South African Development Community states and the African Union to now put considerable pressure on Mr Mugabe to try and get an outcome where the will of the Zimbabwe people is respected."

Rudd said Australia condemned the violence and intimidation used by Mugabe's regime.

"The situation in Zimbabwe is grave and it is becoming worse," Rudd said.

"The people of Zimbabwe must be given a chance to express their free will. The people of Zimbabwe deserve the free expression of that will, so they can give their great country a chance for the future.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Jerry Norton)