Bush ups sanctions against Zimbabwe; Seeks to send message to Mugabe
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
President George W. Bush on Friday expanded sanctions against what he calls the "illegitimate" regime of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his supporters.
Bush's signature of an executive order action was meant to send a strong message that the US will not permit individuals closely linked to Mugabe to operate in US financial markets.
The new sanctions also are meant to add pressure on Mugabe, whose ruling party recently began power-sharing talks with the opposition to try to resolve the country's economic and political crisis.
"No regime should ignore the will of its own people and calls from the international community without consequences," Bush said in a statement.
The president said he took steps to extend sanctions as a result of the Mugabe regime's continued "politically motivated violence" and the African leader's decision to disregard calls from the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to halt the attacks.