G8: leaders agree to call for Zimbabwe sanctions

Philip Webster, Lake Toya, Japan, and Jenny Booth The G8 leaders today called for tougher UN sanctions against Zimbabwe, increasing international pressure on the African pariah state. Russia and Italy have fallen into line with demands to extend existing sanctions, after initially opposing tougher action against Zimbabwe whose veteran leader President Robert Mugabe has just been re-elected after a campaign marred by state-sponsored violence, intimidation and rape. "We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe, the G8 said in a statement. The strongly worded communiqué states that the G8 does not accept the legitimacy of any Zimbabwean government that does not reflect the will of the people. It says that the G8 leaders are deeply... [read full story]