G8 to discuss sharper Zimbabwe sanctions

Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations will discuss sharpening sanctions against Zimbabwe at a summit in Japan next week, a senior German government official said yesterday.

"Britain is pushing for a separate statement on this," said the official, who was speaking to reporters in Berlin and asked not to be identified by name.

Britain wanted G8 leaders to emphasise in the statement that they did not recognise the re-election of President Robert Mugabe and to include a section saying that tighter sanctions should be considered, the German official added.

"I think the initiative has a good chance," he said, adding Germany supported it.

Mr Mugabe was re-elected at the weekend in a vote that was boycotted by the opposition and widely condemned by world leaders.

The US is pushing for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe's leadership through the United Nations, but UN Security Council diplomats say South Africa, Russia and China oppose Washington's plans.

A US-drafted resolution seen by Reuters on Wednesday includes asset freezes and travel bans for officials including Mr Mugabe and the central bank chief.

Zimbabwe's economy is already in meltdown with the country struggling with a chronic shortage of cash and hyper inflation of about nine million per cent.

Earlier this week the German company Giesecke and Devrient announced it would stop supplying Zimbabwe with banknotes following pressure from the German government, the EU and the UN.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday the international community could send a peacekeeping force to stabilise the southern African nation.

"There has been some discussion of an international peacekeeping force and that is an option that is obviously on the table," Mr Brown told a parliamentary committee.