Bush Seeks New Zimbabwe Penalties

Sanctions May Include Arms Embargo, Travel Ban On Mugabe Regime Officials

(CBS/ AP)  With Zimbabwe's runoff election over, the country politically divided and tens of thousands terrorized, the next question is how to deal with a newly empowered Robert Mugabe, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.

Zimbabwe came under threat of further sanctions on Saturday as President Bush said the U.S. was working on new ways to punish Mugabe and his allies following the widely denounced presidential runoff election.

Earlier Saturday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. plans to introduce a U.N. resolution as early as next week seeking tough measures against Zimbabwe.

"We will press for strong action by the United Nations, including an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and travel ban on regime officials," Bush said in a statement.

The European Union said it would not rule out taking sanctions against "those responsible for the tragic events of recent months," according to an EU presidency statement.

For the first time, powerful African neighbors are publicly criticizing Zimbabwe's leader.

"We would like to reiterate that the situation is now out of control in Zimbabwe," said Jacob Zuma, South African ANC leader.

According to human rights groups, at least 86 people died and some 200,000 were forced from their homes leading up to Friday's runoff. Most of the violence was blamed on police, soldiers and Mugabe militants. There were reports of victims being beaten for hours and bodies mutilated. When the main targets could not be found, relatives - elderly parents, young siblings - were attacked.

"The international community has condemned the Mugabe regime's ruthless campaign of politically motivated violence and intimidation with a strong and unified voice that makes clear that yesterday's election was in no way free and fair," Bush said.

The U.S. already has financial and travel penalties in place against more than 170 citizens and entities with ties to Mugabe, White House spokesman Emily Lawrimore said. The Bush administration is considering punishing the government of Zimbabwe as well as further restricting the travel and financial activities of Mugabe supporters, she said.

In Zimbabwe, deputy chief election officer Utloile Silaigwana announced on state television that counting had finished in most wards and that the electoral commission was waiting for results from a few outstanding wards. Results would still need to be verified by the national command center before being released.

Results would still need to be verified by the national command center before being released, but an announcement was expected as early as Saturday - contrasting sharply with the weeks it took to before Zimbabweans learned opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the first round.

Tsvangirai came first in a field of four in the first round in March, but the official count didn't give him the margin needed to avoid a runoff against second-place finisher Mugabe. Tsvangirai pulled out of the race after the onslaught of violence.

Earlier, Justice Minister and senior ZANU-PF member Patrick Chinamasa said the party was expecting results either Saturday or Sunday.

"From the information filtering in, it looks like a clear win for our president," he said.

An announcement of the result is expected before Mugabe leaves for Monday's African Union summit in Egypt, so he can attend as a re-elected president.

On Friday, residents said they were forced to vote by threats of violence or arson from Mugabe supporters who searched for anyone without an ink-stained finger - the telltale sign that they had cast a ballot.

"There was a lot of intimidation for people to vote," said Marwick Khumalo, head of the Pan-African Parliament observer mission. "You can tell people just wanted to get the indelible ink to protect themselves from the hooligans."

The Herald, Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper, reported Saturday that a massive voter turnout was "a slap in the face for detractors who claimed this was a 'Mugabe election' that did not have the blessing of the generality of Zimbabweans."

But Khumalo said the turnout was "very, very low." He also said many of those who did vote cast their ballots for Tsvangirai.

Boycotting the poll and spoiling their votes were brave acts by Zimbabweans following the intense violence the opposition faced in the run-up to the election.

Mugabe could try to use the Tsvangirai votes as evidence the election was not a sham, but they are more likely to be seen as a display of the desire to show support for the opposition leader against all odds.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged African nations to help bring an end to Mugabe's rule, and called the election a "new low" in Zimbabwe's affairs. The upcoming African Union summit in Egypt is "an opportunity for the region to restore hope to the people of Zimbabwe. Democracy will ultimately prevail," he said in a statement.

In the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik where African foreign ministers were meeting ahead of Monday's general AU summit, a Zimbabwe opposition leader asked the AU to send peacekeepers and dedicate a special envoy to help end the violence and political crisis in her country.

"Zimbabwe at the present moment is burning. It is on fire. What the African Union and the African leaders must do is save Zimbabwe before it is burnt beyond recognition," the opposition's vice president, Thokozani Khupe, told The Associated Press.

Also Saturday, the international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said that South Africa had deported some 450 Zimbabweans overnight from a border detention center who were "fleeing instability and political violence."

Siobhan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Home Affairs, said she didn't know "the particulars of this case.

"My assumption would be that they would be in the country illegally and do not qualify for refugee status and therefore were returned to Zimbabwe," McCarthy said.

Mugabe, who has led the country since independence in 1980, was once hailed as a post-independence leader committed to development and reconciliation. But in recent years, he has been accused of ruining Zimbabwe's economy and holding onto power through fraud and intimidation.

The official inflation rate was put at 165,000 percent by the government in February, but independent estimates put the real figure closer to 4 million percent.

Since the first round of elections, shortages of basic goods have worsened, public services have come to virtual standstill, and power and water outages have continued daily.

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[terrorislami]

YOU DO NOT WANT THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[latrocinor-2009]

Opposing a villain that CREATES a war for NO REASON and gets 4100 troops killed, does NOT mean that we automatically support or side with the terrorists.

Posted by hungry1968
...............................................

Sounds like an ignoramous of a person who is not an American.

If you are an Amerisan citizen you''re a traitor and a treason tick on the back of this country sucking it''s juices but contributing nothing but ill health to it.

Either way you''re against the USA. Go eat dirt you moron worm.

[latrocinor-2009]

What''''s Dubya up to this time???

Posted by Inventagod
..................................................
Never heard of Dubya. Is that some kind of moron conspiracy theorist code word?

[hungry1968]

WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG again nancy

where was the UN resolution authorizing war on BOSNIA???

where was the UN resolution authorizing war on AFGHANISTAN???


Posted by terrorislami at 10:18 AM : Jun 29, 2008





Afghanistan attacked us, therefore according to the UN charter, we were fully justified to invade them WITHOUT the UN''s approval.

Bosnia WAS a UN war. Why do you think the UN would have to give the US permission to join the UN''s Bosnian war? Are you REALLY that uneducated?



I STRONGLY urge you to look up what I''ve previously asked you to look up. Don''t take my word for it - educate yourself!!

[terrorislami]

Posted by hungry1968 at 10:14 AM : Jun 29, 2008

WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG again nancy

where was the UN resolution authorizing war on BOSNIA???

where was the UN resolution authorizing war on AFGHANISTAN???

[hungry1968]

NOT,,,

are you calling the DEMONIC-RAT hero owl bore a LIAR??? lol

hahaha

good one,,,

Posted by terrorislami at 10:10 AM : Jun 29, 2008





Crack your stupid jokes and laugh at them.

But my post at 10:08 is supported by facts AND history.

Look it up yourself if you don''t believe me. Specifically look at the UN charter on "one nation declaring war on another" and "the end of the first gulf war".

Then look at ALL of the PROVEN lies used to start the current Iraq debacle, and you can''t help but see it.

[terrorislami]

Posted by hungry1968 at 10:08 AM : Jun 29, 2008

NOT,,,

are you calling the DEMONIC-RAT hero owl bore a LIAR??? lol

hahaha

good one,,,

[hungry1968]

it actually never ended since it only stopped by the signing of a ceasefire,,, just like the korean war,,,

Posted by terrorislami at 09:58 AM : Jun 29, 2008






Let''s assume that is true. The FIRST Gulf War was a UN war, and the peace agreement that was signed was signed by the UN, complete with UN resolutions. If the Gulf War needed to be resumed, then the ONLY entity that could resume the hostilities IS the UN. When Bush went to the UN in the hopes of starting a war, they rejected him - he needed 9 security council votes and only got 4.

Under UN rules, there are only a handful of situations that one country can declare war on another and / or invade them. One of those reasons is if one country "poses a clear and imminent threat" to another - then the second country has the right to invade to protect itself. There NEVER was a clear and present danger, and Bush and his regime fabricated that threat.

Therefore, the war is illegal.

[terrorislami]

Posted by hungry1968 at 09:55 AM : Jun 29, 2008

the Iraqi war is legal, demonic-rat hero oscar, emmy, nobel prize winning al bore says so,,,

it actually never ended since it only stopped by the signing of a ceasefire,,, just like the korean war,,,

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement,,,

blame saddam for iraq,,, Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998,,,

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[hungry1968]

ummmmm haji,,, you are the backer of the only group that promotes and commits genocide,,,

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM,,,

but then you knew that already,,,

Posted by terrorislami at 09:43 AM : Jun 29, 2008





Opposing a villain that CREATES a war for NO REASON and gets 4100 troops killed, does NOT mean that we automatically support or side with the terrorists.

You can be against BOTH groups of dangerous people at the same time.

But you know that, because I''ve already told you that about 20 or more times.

[terrorislami]

Posted by brianbwb at 09:38 AM : Jun 29, 2008

ummmmm haji,,, you are the backer of the only group that promotes and commits genocide,,,

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM,,,

but then you knew that already,,,

[inventagod2]

6/26/08

''I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that the current existence and risk of the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a ''national emergency'' to deal with that threat.''''

What''s Dubya up to this time???

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by terrorislami

Hey death worshiper, advocate of slavery for the Japanese, and genocide for the Muslims, have you ever wondered why Bush and his klan, being the liars and criminals that they are, still know better than to advocate any of your death worship BS reasons for their wars?

Because even if they heard such tripe, they have just enough brain to know that it is pure BS, and the majority of the world knows this also.

So go take your oxycontin, grease up that right hand, and dream your dreams of genocide, because that is the only way you''ll see it.

[hungry1968]

Robert Mugabe on winning the election by stealing it, "You asked, do I feel free. Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That''s what happened in the -- after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I''ve earned capital in this election -- and I''m going to spend it for what I told the people I''d spend it on, which is -- you''ve heard the agenda: Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward, education, fighting and winning the war on terror."

[terrorislami]

Posted by brianbwb at 07:13 AM : Jun 29, 2008

is a shill for inbred retarded radical fascist nazi terrorislamic jihadists muslim slavers, murderers and rapists

and he wants the non-muslims of the world to let the fascist nazi terrorislamists to mind their own business while they commit genocide on all the non-muslims of the world,,, one country at a time,,,

[terrorislami]

typical and predictable,,, anytime you allow communist or fascist nazi terrorislam take over you will have a communist/terrorislam induced famine,,, it is happening in venezuela now,,, they also used to export food,,, now they too have to import food,,,

Zimbabwe suffers from an 80 percent unemployment rate and, according to the International Monetary Fund, an inflation rate exceeding 150,000 percent. Since 1994, the average life expectancy for women in Zimbabwe has fallen from 57 years to 34 years; among men it has dropped from 54 years to 37 years. Some 3,500 Zimbabweans die every week from the combined effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and malnutrition. Half a million Zimbabweans may have died since 2000, while some 3 million fled to South Africa alone.

A country that used to be called the %u201Cjewel%u201D and the %u201Cbreadbasket%u201D of Africa is now an Orwellian nightmare. With the economy in ruins and political freedom eviscerated, Zimbabwe%u2019s state-run media rail against a phantom international conspiracy consisting of Western powers and led by %u201Cliar%u201D George Bush, %u201Cgay%u201D Tony Blair, %u201Cuncle Tom%u201D Colin Powell, and %u201Ca slave to white masters%u201D Condoleezza Rice.
http://www.american.com/archive/2008/may-05-08/botswana-and-zimbabwe-a-tale-of-two-countries

[terrorislami]

World Condemnation Of Zimbabwe MUSLIM THUGS Grows
As Opposition Leader Calls For Peacekeepers, World Leaders Lament "Sham" Elections

Mugabe%u2019s Muslim Thugs Raid Christian Offices

Well, let%u2019s see; Zimbabwe%u2019s Muslim President, Robert Mugabe, has %u201Ccured AIDS,%u201D expelled ALL gayys, and now is cracking down on Christians%u2026 I smell genocide in the air%u2026

Zimbabwe Police Raid Christian Offices
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Police raided Zimbabwe Christian Alliance offices on Monday and arrested five staff members for interrogation, the group reported.
Faced with the very real prospect of losing power, the 84-year-old Mugabe and his party the Zanu-PF party has resorted to violence, including an alleged plan to assassinate Tsvangirai and other key leaders of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Party.

Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe which was once dubbed the breadbasket of southern Africa, has spiraled into an economic meltdown that includes an unemployment rate of about 80 percent and inflation at more than 100,000 percent.
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/mugabes-muslim-thugs-raid-christian-offices/

[terrorislami]

MUGABE/HUSSEIN IN 08

hmmmmmmm fascist nazi terrorislam backs mugabe/mug-me/bug-me,,, and fascist nazi terrorislam back husein,,,

COULD THIS BE A WARNING???

Islamic terrorists back Mugabe

Zanu-PF plots with a South African outlaw group to bring more terror to the country.

Four members of the military junta now ruling Zimbabwe in Mugabe''s name are holding secret meetings with representatives of PAGAD, the notorious Islamic terrorist organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa.
http://www.zimbabwetoday.co.uk/2008/06/islamic-terrori.html

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,