UN Security Council set to vote on sanctions

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a targeted sanctions resolution against Zimbabwe on 10 July 2008. The proposed sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his top aides and an arms embargo on the regime, which many in the international community consider illegitimate after Mugabe won the one-candidate run off election on 27 June amid an environment of intimidation and violence. U.S. representatives believe the resolution will garner the necessary votes to pass, despite objections voiced by Russia and China, two permanent members of the Security Council who hold veto power. In past statements, Mugabe has accused the draft resolution of being "racist" and has warned the international community to stop "meddling" in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. Mugabe and the African Union instead have taken steps to pursue a negotiated settlement to the political crisis. However, despite government press releases to the contrary, so far the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has rejected negotiations under the current conditions.