Russia joins call for curbs on Mugabe regime

By George Parker in Toyako and Harvey Morris at the,United Nations Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe last night faced a growing likelihood of global sanctions after world leaders, including Russia, backed international action to resolve the crisis provoked by June's flawed elections. A statement by the Group of Eight, calling for measures against those responsible for violence in Zimbabwe, came as the Security Council sat down in a closed session to consider sanctions that would target Mr Mugabe and his closest supporters with a worldwide travel ban and the freezing of their assets. Western states, including the US, which sponsored the resolution that would be binding on all UN members, hoped to have the document finalised today and voted on by the end of the week. Russia, along with China, has so far opposed action to... [read full story]