EU renews targeted sanctions against Mugabe

EU renews targeted sanctions against Mugabe

MUGABE

• Full text of EU sanctions renewal agreement

• Bid to bar Mugabe envoy from EU-ACP Hague meeting

• Zanu PF MPs' UK trip causes storm

• Zim sports minister grumbles over Olympics ban

• Zimbabwe Minister barred from Olympics

• EU extends targeted sanctions

• Mudede, Mahoso on EU sanctions list

• Leave us alone - Mugabe

• EU to extend sanctions on Mugabe

• Gono met by protesters in SA

• Rough ride for Mugabe's banker in UK

• Mugabe banker's UK trip sparks protests

• Gono beats sanctions, allowed into UK

• Gono to visit UK to raise funds

By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe on Monday got an unwanted 81st birthday present when the European Union extended a series of targeted sanctions against his regime for a year.

The EU says it will review its decision in the light of parliamentary elections next month.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels extended the sanctions to February 20, 2006.

They include a ban on the sale, supply or transfer of arms to Zimbabwe, on any assistance concerning military activities, and on the supply of any equipment capable of being used for internal repression, ministers said in a statement.

They also include a visa ban and an asset freeze on people who have committed human rights violations, and violations of freedom of speech and assembly in Zimbabwe.

Foreign critics have said the ruling Zanu PF rigged parliamentary elections in 2000 and the 2002 presidential poll, and accuse the government of widespread human rights abuses.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Sunday he wanted the March 31 parliamentary elections to be a peaceful victory that would be a lesson for his critics at home and abroad.

Mugabe said he hoped his Zanu PF party would win a massive victory over the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that would undercut criticism from the MDC and Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he says sponsors the opposition.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com