afrol News, 26 September - Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has appealed for an end to international sanctions against his government. Appeal at United Nations General Assembly session in New York on Thursday follows a power-sharing agreement between his ruling party and opposition.

European Union governments imposed stiffer sanctions on Zimbabwe in July, freezing assets and denying travel visas to a further 37 associates of Mugabe. EU sanctions previously hit 131 of his allies.

"Sanctions have hindered Zimbabwe's efforts to increase food production. We deplore this vindictive approach which often is characterized by self-righteous finger-pointing," said Mr Mugabe.

"Once again, I appeal to the world's collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of these sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies, which have brought untold suffering to our people," he said.

Mr Mugabe frequently blames limited sanctions for his country's economic woes.

An attempt to tighten sanctions earlier this year failed to get UN backing after China and Russia refused to support them.

Mr Mugabe said his ZANU-PF party will abide by the spirit and letter of accord but made no mention of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who became prime minister under the accord.

"By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction," he said, referring to invasion of Iraq.

Zimbabwe is in its 10th year of an economic recession and has world's highest inflation rate, 11.2 million percent, following a land-redistribution campaign begun by Mr Mugabe in 2000.

The programme, in which white-owned commercial farms were seized for redistribution to black farmers deprived of land during colonial rule, cut agricultural output and led to shortages of basic commodities including flour and cooking oil.

Zimbabwe signed power sharing deal earlier this month. The agreement allows Mr Mugabe to extend his 28-year rule, while naming Mr Tsvangirai as prime minister.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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