Mugabe

NEW YORK (AP):

Western supporters claimed enough support yesterday for the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government, but Russia warned it might veto the plan.

A vote on a United States draft resolution with proposed sanctions is expected later this week.

"Yes, we think we have nine of the 15 votes needed to approve a sanctions resolution," France's UN ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, told reporters. "It's obvious there is global support for tougher measures."

United States Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said, "The votes are there for it to pass, absent a veto."

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned that his nation could veto it. Russia is one of five council members with that power.

"We should make it clear to begin with that the Security Council is not about to enter into the whole realm of mediating elections, or passing judgement on elections," he said.

The 15-nation council met yesterday to discuss Zimbabwe. Ripert said Zimbabwe's crisis poses a threat to international peace and security - a requirement for the council's involvement - "due to the massive violation of human rights".

Affect regional peace

That view gained traction Tuesday from Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, who was Tanzania's foreign minister until last year.

Migiro, who just returned from an African Union summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, told the council that Mugabe's re-election has the potential to affect regional peace and security.

"This profound crisis of legitimacy is further compounded by the paralysis of state insti-tutions. There is currently no functioning parliament. Civil society has been silenced and intimidated," Migiro said. "The principle of democracy is at stake."