Zimbabwe urged the world on Monday to accept President Robert Mugabe's re-election and said any move to impose U.N. sanctions on his government would hurt everyone involved.This week, the U.N. Security Council is due to discuss a U.S. and British-based proposal for financial and travel restrictions on Mugabe and his top officials as well as an arms embargo on Zimbabwe.
World leaders at a Group of Eight nations summit in Japan also raised the prospect of more sanctions on Zimbabwe unless quick progress is made to end a political crisis after Mugabe's re-election in a poll that drew global condemnation.
'It is the UK that is pushing for sanctions, but isolating and demonising Zimbabwe is not in the best interests of anyone. They should treat Zimbabwe as a partner rather than an enemy,' Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said. 'The people of Zimbabwe made a decision on June 27 and that decision has to be respected.'