UNITED NATIONS — Russia and China vetoed proposed sanctions on Zimbabwe on Friday, rejecting U.S. efforts to step up punitive measures after the African nation's disputed presidential election.
Western powers mustered nine votes, the minimum needed to gain approval in the 15-nation council, in a show of hands. But the failed resolution — which had been a priority for U.S. President George W. Bush — failed because of the action by two of the five veto-wielding members.
The other three members with veto power, the U.S., Britain and France, argued sanctions were needed to respond to the violence and intimidation linked to Zimbabwe's recent, widely discredited presidential election.
It would have imposed an international travel ban and freeze on personal assets of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and 13 key leaders.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the sanctions plan for Zimbabwe would have taken the U.N. beyond its mandate by "artificially elevating them to the level of a threat" to international peace and security.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,381101,00.html
