President Bush Announces Sanctions Against Mugabe Goverment

June 30, 2008 7:25 a.m. EST

Washington, D. C. (AHN) - President George Bush did not mince any words in expressing his condemnation of Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe over the weekend. Calling the recent national elections "a sham," President Bush announced that had asked the U.S. State Department and the United Nations to develop sanctions against the 84-year old dictator's government.

"The international community has condemned the Mugabe regime's ruthless campaign of politically-motivated violence and intimidation with a strong and unified voice," the President said, according to an official transcript. "Given the Mugabe regime's blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean people's democratic will and human rights, I am instructing the Secretaries of State and Treasury to develop sanctions against this illegitimate Government of Zimbabwe and those who support it."

"We will press for strong action by the United Nations, including an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and travel ban on regime officials," he added. "The United States stands ready to support a legitimate government... In the meantime, we will continue to support the people of Zimbabwe by providing food assistance to more than one million people and AIDS treatment to more than 40,000 people."

Mugabe, who rose to power in 1980 as Prime Minister, was sworn into his sixth term as President on Sunday after a runoff election that was widely criticized for its violence. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew from the race after winning the first round held on March 29, saying the results of the elections would only "reflect the fear of the people."