US Backs Sanctions If Zimbabwe Poll Crisis Continues

The US today increased diplomatic pressure on Robert Mugabe after a recount in Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections confirmed an opposition win, paving the way for the possible release of presidential results.

The US state department's chief Africa envoy, Jendayi Frazer, said the international community had a responsibility to intervene to prevent human rights abuses reported since the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claimed victory in the March 29 elections.

"When a government deploys its military and its police and its intelligence operatives, as well as mobilizing youth militia, then the international community has a responsibility to step in and to try to stop that government from beating its own population," Frazer told the Associated Press.

In a separate interview with the BBC, she was more specific about the sort of international action she was advocating, saying the US would back UN sanctions against Zimbabwe if the post-election crisis continued.

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, also expressed concern about the extent of political violence directed at opposition activists and independent monitors.

"If tolerance and respect for human rights continue their steep decline, the consequences will be grave for all Zimbabweans, and lead to further problems for neighboring states," she said in a statement.

The MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has accused the Mugabe government of delaying the results from the presidential and parliamentary elections in order to buy time for a campaign of intimidation aimed at winning a second round of presidential polling.

After a delay of nearly a month, Zimbabwe's official media reported partial results from a recount in the parliamentary poll. These confirmed an MDC majority in parliament, marking the first time the ruling Zanu-PF party has lost control in the Zimbabwe's 28-year history as an independent nation.

Representatives of Mugabe and Tsvangirai were due to meet the country's electoral commission today to compare their vote tallies with the commission's. A challenge by either party was likely to lead to further delays, the commission said.