Russia
and China have vetoed a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution that would
have imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe.
The U.S. sponsored draft resolution called for financial and travel
restrictions against President Robert Mugabe and 13 others for violence leading
up to last month's presidential vote.
China and Russia joined South Africa, Libya and Vietnam in opposing the draft
Friday. Nine countries voted for the resolution, including permanent council
members Britain, France and the United States. One nation (Indonesia) abstained.
Zimbabwe said in a letter to the United Nations this week that international
sanctions against the government could lead to civil war in the country.
President Mugabe says he won another term as president last month, in a
one-candidate run-off election after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
withdrew. The opposition said state-sponsored violence had killed more than 100
people before the election.