Zimbabwe today welcomed the failure of a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions over its violent presidential elections, calling it a victory over racism and meddling in its affairs.
Russia and China yesterday vetoed the resolution, which would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African country and financial and travel restrictions on president Robert Mugabe and 13 other officials.
Britain described Russia's veto as "incomprehensible", and said it would try again if there is no progress in ending a crisis in the African state.
"I'm very disappointed that the UN Security Council should have failed to pass a strong and clear resolution on Zimbabwe," British foreign secretary David Miliband said in a statement today.
"It'll appear incomprehensible to the people of Zimbabwe that Russia, which committed itself at the G8 to take further steps including introducing financial and other sanctions, should stand in the way of Security Council action."
"Nor will they understand the Chinese vote," Miliband said. China was also among five countries that opposed the US-drafted text yesterday.
A spokesman for British prime minister Gordon Brown called the veto disappointing and said it was right to seek the resolution. Britain would go back to the Council if there was no progress, he added.
Russia claimed sanctions would have set a dangerous precedent of political interference. Russia, China and regional powerhouse South Africa said the resolution would have hurt dialogue between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition.
"We are very happy with the turn of events and would like to thank those who helped defeat international racism disguised as multilateral action at the UN," Zimbabwean information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said.
"The principles of non-interference into the sovereign affairs of a UN member state have been upheld. What has the UNgot to do with member states' elections?," he said.
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in a March 29th presidential election but failed to get enough votes to avoid a second ballot.
Mr Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off poll held on June 27th, citing attacks on his supporters by pro-Mugabe militia. His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Western powers branded Mugabe's landslide re-election a sham.
The MDC is now in preliminary talks with ZANU-PF under the auspices of South African mediators, but has refused to negotiate a power-sharing deal until the government halts the bloodshed. The MDC says 113 of its supporters have been killed.
South Africa's government applauded the UN decision today, in line with an African Union resolution to encourage dialogue between Zanu-PF and the MDC instead.
"It is our considered view that imposing sanctions would indeed have impacted negatively on the current dialogue process among Zimbabwean political parties," it said in a statement.
Millions of people have fled to neighbouring states including South Africa to escape an economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, which has led to widespread shortages, 80 per cent unemployment, and inflation estimated to be at least 2 million per cent.
China also said the sanctions could undermine the talks and would "complicate" rather than ease the conflict.
REUTERS