Russia and China veto Zimbabwe sanction plans
7/11/2008 - 10:39:45 PMRussia and China vetoed proposed sanctions on Zimbabwe tonight, rejecting efforts by the US and Britain to impose an arms embargo and punitive measures aimed at Robert Mugabe and his top aides.
Western powers mustered nine votes, the minimum needed to gain approval in the 15-nation United Nations Security Council. But the resolution failed because of the action by two of the five veto-wielding members.
The other three members with veto power, the US, Britain and France, argued sanctions were needed to respond to the violence and intimidation linked to Zimbabwe’s recent, widely discredited presidential election.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said sanctions would have taken the UN beyond its mandate to deal with threats to international peace and security.