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G8 united in call for Mugabe ally sanctions

08/07/2008

G8 leaders meeting in Japan have called for financial sanctions to be levelled against senior ministers in Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe's government.

The joint statement represents the first time Russia has added its voice to calls for sanctions against Zimbabwe.

The G8 has expressed its "grave concern" over the situation in the south African country, where last month Mr Mugabe was the only candidate in a presidential runoff vote.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the vote amid escalating violence targeting his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters.

The United Nations sanctions called for by the G8 include economic measures against government figures and military figures, as well as an overall arms embargo.

Speaking from Tokyo where the G8 summit is taking place Gordon Brown said the strongest message yet had been sent to Mr Mugabe that his regime was "illegitimate".

"It shows that the whole of the international community is now not prepared to accept an illegitimate government," he added.

The fact that Moscow has supported the demand means it is all but certain to be passed by the UN security council, which has also been encouraged to create a special envoy to mediate in Zimbabwe's political crisis.

A statement from the G8 – made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US – said it did not accept the legitimacy of Mr Mugabe's government because it did not represent the will of the people.