United Nations:  A US draft resolution calls for sanctions against Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and demands that his government immediately begin talks with the opposition to peacefully resolve the country's political crisis.

The draft resolution, obtained by the Associated Press today, would require all countries to freeze the financial assets of Mugabe and 11 other Zimbabwean officials and ban them from travelling if adopted by the UN Security Council.

Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers backed the US draft saying the council needs "to maintain pressure on the parties" to achieve a political settlement. But it was unclear whether China, a veto-wielding council member with long-standing ties to Zimbabwe, would support sanctions.

The draft says Mugabe was "responsible for activities that seriously undermine democracy, repress human rights and disrespect the rule of law."

It would also impose sanctions on five members of the government, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Patrick Chinamasa, David Parirenyatwa, Didymus Mutasa and George Charamba as well as Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono. It also would impose sanctions on five members of the security forces, Constantine Ciwenga, Augustine Chihuri, Perence Shiri, Paradzi Zimondi and Happyton Bonyongwe.

The draft resolution would condemn "the continued killing, beating and torture of civilians, sexual violence, and the displacement of thousands of Zimbabweans..." It would also condemn "the baseless arrests, restrictions on the right of assembly, seizure of vehicles, threats, intimidation and violence directed against supporters of the opposition political party, as well as the repeated detention of its leaders."

Source : PTI