U.S. Imposes Travel Curb on Mugabe

The United States imposed travel restrictions on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his aides Friday to protest an election campaign that it said was “marred by political violence and intimidation.”

President Bush said he took the action “in light of the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe and the continued failure of President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean government officials and others to support the rule of law.”

The order said Bush suspended entry into the United States of Mugabe and senior members of his government and their families, and people who through their business dealings benefit from the policies of Zimbabwe’s current government.

The suspension is effective immediately, Bush said, and could be terminated at the discretion of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

“In light of the current situation, the United States is imposing targeted sanctions on senior Zimbabwean officials because conditions for a transparent election process in Zimbabwe have eroded,” said White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

The European Union on Monday imposed a visa ban on Mugabe and 19 of his top officials because of the way Zimbabwe treated observers sent to monitor presidential elections set for March 9-10. The EU also froze the overseas assets of the 20 Zimbabwean leaders and withdrew the observer mission.

The United States, like the European Union, has been strongly critical of Mugabe’s restrictions on the media and of intimidation of the opposition by his supporters.

Fleischer said the travel suspensions would be lifted if Mugabe allowed the elections to proceed legitimately.