The United States has introduced a resolution in the UN Security Council seeking freezing of assets of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and
11 of his aides following the last week's much-criticised presidential run-off.
The resolution also asked the 15-member powerful body to impose an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and a travel ban targeting Mugabe, the central bank governor and 10 other officials.
Washington said it expected the resolution to be voted next week. However, several Council members, including China and Russia had reservations but it was yet unclear whether they would go to the extent of casting a veto.
The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said imposing sanctions on Zimbabwean leadership had become necessary in view of the "flawed" presidential elections held despite a warning by the international community and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that poll should be postponed as conditions for free and fair vote do not exit.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won the first vote on March 29. However, a run-off was ordered which Mugabe won but human rights groups allege that his supporters had unleashed a wave of violence and killing against opponents which prevented them from voting.
Tsvangirai had withdrawn from the run off and hence Mugabe had no opponent.
Russia, China and South Africa are among those who want the issue to be resolved by the Africans themselves.
Diplomats said the members would need to consult their capitals which could take sometime and several amendments, including shortening the list against whom sanction have been proposed, might be incorporated to get nine votes and no veto the resolution needs for being adopted.
