EU toughens sanctions against Mugabe

By Michelle Faul and Constant Brand, Johannesburg, South Africa European Union foreign ministers agreed yesterday to toughen sanctions against Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to pressure him to share power with the opposition ahead of the opening of talks in South Africa between Zimbabwe’s rival parties. Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed on Monday to formal talks about sharing power to end Zimbabwe’s crisis, deepened by three months of state-sponsored electoral violence. The talks were expected to begin later last night at a secret location, said Mukoni Ratshitanga, spokesman for South African President Thabo Mbeki who is mediating. The agreement includes a key opposition demand for an end to the political violence that has killed dozens, injured thousands and sent tens of thousands fleeing from... [read full story]