afrol News, 8 September - Canadian government has slapped President Mugabe's regime with sanctions in protest against what it calls state-sponsored violence and intimidation.

Canada is banning arms exports to Zimbabwe and freezing assets of top Zimbabwean officials. It is also banning Zimbabwean aircraft from flying over or landing in Canada.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, David Emerson, said Zimbabwean government has made no visible effort to improve the lives of its ordinary citizens since disputed presidential elections earlier this year.

"Canada's targeted sanctions send a clear message that we abhor current Zimbabwe regime's perversion of a legitimate democratic process and the continuing human rights violations," Mr Emerson said in a statement.

The MDC won a majority in parliament in the first round of voting in March, the only time it has controlled the legislative body since the country obtained independence from Britain in 1980, but did not obtain majority votes to avoid run off. The MDC leader then pulled out of the June runoff election to protest state-sponsored violence against his supporters.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai began talks on July 21 aimed at forming a unity government. The negotiations stalled on Aug. 12 because the two leaders disagree on how executive power will be divided between them in any future coalition government.

The election was condemned around the world and drew toughened sanctions from Western countries whose support is vital for reviving Zimbabwe's ruined economy.

Last Thursday, Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has given the country's main opposition an ultimatum that it will go ahead and form a Cabinet if opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai does not sign a power-sharing deal.

In July, United States and European Union has imposed sanctions on President Mugabe's regime and more than 130 individuals have been slapped with the EU visa bans and an asset freeze.

Zimbabwe's main opposition party said it had lost faith in power-sharing talks with President Mugabe, who is under strong international pressure to step down.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has travel to Zimbabwe for talks aimed at ending the political crisis in that country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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