Zimbabwe: European Union widen sanctions against Zimbabwe

(SomaliNet) Adding over 30 more people to a list of individuals from Zimbabwe under a visa ban and asset freeze, EU foreign ministers widened sanctions against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, officials confirmed.

Some 37 individuals and four \"entities\" - probably major companies - will be added to the list of more than 130 individuals under a visa ban and whose assets are frozen, the EU\'s French presidency and an EU official said.

It is the first time that business people and companies in Zimbabwe have been targeted by EU measures.

The move, at talks in Brussels, was announced despite the signing on Monday of a deal between veteran President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on the framework of the talks.

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe was re-elected in a run-off in June after his opponent Tsvangirai pulled out, citing a campaign of intimidation and violence against his supporters that had killed dozens and injured thousands.

Earlier in July, Britain said that it was seeking tougher EU sanctions after an attempt to pass United Nations sanctions against Zimbabwe\'s leadership was vetoed by Security Council members Russia and China.

\"The sanctions that we and others are proposing are designed very much to reinforce the drive for the transition government to reflect the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people,\" British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said as he arrived for the meeting on Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country holds the EU\'s rotating presidency until the end of 2008 said: \"Sanctions have played a role, we have to keep up that role.\" - Sapa-AFP