Russia has said it could veto proposed UN sanctions against Zimbabwe's president and his allies, despite agreeing a G8 statement backing them.

Russia has the power to veto any measures at the UN Security Council, which could take a vote this week.

The US and the UK are supporting moves for a travel ban and assets freeze on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and 11 of his allies, and an arms embargo.

Several African leaders have also said they oppose sanctions.

'Open to interpretation'

BBC UN Correspondent Laura Trevelyan said Russia had not ruled out using its veto, however it could abstain.

China also has the power of veto at the UN Security Council and has recently increased economic co-operation with Zimbabwe.

France's ambassador to the UN has told the BBC he believes those in favour of the resolution have the nine votes out of 15 needed to pass it.

Zimbabwe's UN ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku said the G8 text was open to interpretation and did not specifically call for sanctions.

Mr Mugabe has long blamed Zimbabwe's economic problems on "Western sanctions" but there is no move to imposed trade sanctions or other measures which could hurt ordinary Zimbabweans.

The statement called for financial and other measures against individuals "responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe.

The G8 also called for a special UN Security Council envoy to report on the situation in Zimbabwe and help mediate, casting doubt on their confidence in South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki.

He has been the chief mediator so far but has been criticised for being too soft on Mr Mugabe.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says more than 100 of its supporters have been killed since it won elections in March, some 5,000 are missing and more than 200,000 have been forced from their homes.

It pulled out of a presidential run-off last month, leaving Mr Mugabe unopposed.

Mr Mbeki and the leaders of Senegal and Tanzania told the G8 leaders that sanctions would not solve Zimbabwe's problems.

They favour the formation of a government of national unity.

Mr Mbeki reportedly said that UN sanctions could lead to civil war.

Senegal's leader, Abdoulaye Wade, told the AFP news agency: "I said that sanctions... wouldn't change the regime."

The G8 leaders said they "do not accept the legitimacy of a government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people".

"We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against individuals responsible for violence [in Zimbabwe]," the statement adds.

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(BBC)

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