Britain presses for arms embargo on Zimbabwe

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday he would propose a wider arms embargo against Zimbabwe but an aide said there were no plans to press for one at the UN Security Council.

Mr Brown was encouraging other countries, particularly Zimbabwe's neighbours, to prevent the flow of arms into the country, according to the aide.

No results have been announced from Zimbabwe's March 29 presidential election which the opposition says it won, while the outcome of a parliamentary poll is also in doubt because of partial recounts.

Britain, the former colonial ruler, has accused Robert Mugabe of trying to steal the election.

"A message should be sent from the whole of the United Kingdom that what is happening in Zimbabwe - failing to announce an election result, trying to rig an election result - is completely unacceptable," Mr Brown told Parliament.

A Chinese ship carrying arms to Zimbabwe was turned away from South Africa last week after workers refused to unload the weapons because of concerns that Mr Mugabe's government might use them against his opponents. China said on Tuesday the shipment might return home after two other southern African countries denied it access to their ports.

"Because of what has happened in South Africa... we will promote proposals for an embargo on all arms to Zimbabwe," Mr Brown said, giving no further details.

The European Union already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe, part of sanctions in place since 2002. The embargo bars the 27 EU states from supplying arms or equipment intended for military operations.

Washington has also imposed sanctions on Harare.

"We encourage others to take the same approach," a spokesman for Mr Brown said.

Zambia, which chairs the Southern African Development Community grouping, has urged countries in the region to bar the Chinese ship carrying the weapons from entering their waters.

"We think that's a very sound moratorium for the region. That's what the Prime Minister wants to see promoted," another Brown aide said.

"You won't see the UK proposing one (an arms embargo) at the UN Security Council," he said.

EU foreign ministers are due to discuss Zimbabwe next week.