IRIN – The European Union’s decision to extend sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and senior members of the ruling ZANU-PF party was endorsed by a leading human rights organization.

“In view of the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular the lack of progress in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed in September 2008, the restrictive measures … should be extended for a further period of 12 months,” the Official Journal of the European Union reportedly said on 16 February 2010.

The EU first imposed sanctions on 18 February 2002, including travel bans and freezing bank accounts; the list has since grown to more than 200 targeted individuals and 40-odd companies linked to Mugabe and his party.

“These targeted sanctions are aimed solely at those whom the EU judges to be responsible for the violence, for the violations of human rights, and for preventing the holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe,” the EU said in a previous statement.

Read more – http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88127

BBC – Fresh elections may be needed in Zimbabwe after political leaders failed to end their deadlock, former opposition party the MDC says.

But MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa did not give a timeframe for any new polls.

It says President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF failed to keep promises made when the MDC joined a unity government.

Relations remain fraught between the two long-time rivals who started sharing power a year ago to halt their country’s economic collapse.

“In our view it’s a deadlock. We realise there is disenchantment among the people. MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) spokesman Nelson Chamisa told journalists in Harare.

Read  more – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8513349.stm