EU sanctions on Mugabe to remain

THE European Union said yesterday it will not remove sanctions targeting Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his loyalists or resume development aid until more is done to implement a year-old power-sharing agreement andrestore human rights.

Winding up the first visit by a high-level EU delegation since 2002, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel de Gucht said sharp differences remained between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, over their coalition agreement signed on September 15, 2008.

“They do not have the same reading of the same document,” he told reporters at the end of a two-day visit.