The UN seems to be scrapping the barrel to come up with the big names to mediate in Zim. The same Annan did absolutely zilch during the Rwanda crisis.Obasanjo was a military dictator at one point.All the big names are totally discredited As Ed Allen has said its all about jumping on the gravy train

Davis, Manchester,

will, grimsby we should boycott the Beijing Olympics anyway, look at Chinas’ human rights record or total lack there of. The West is scared of China due to the trade it can generate but even more so the USA is terrified as they cannot afford China to repatriate the Dollars they hold. What a crash!

Lloyd, London,

Kofi Annan , I shake my head , Rwanda / Burundi , architect , genocide ,did nothing , Romeo Dallaire , pleading , mutilation ,rapes , by the million , arrange to suit yourself - Annan did absolutely nothing and could have saved hundreds of thousands , talk about a gravy train , climb aboard

Ed Allen, Whitby, Canada

James-Southampton-I have been to Zimbabwe many times. Can you tell me the area in Zim where you saw people dying ?
Have you ever been to Mbare market and saw the amount of food there?Why have we not seen pictures of starving children in Zim like happens in Somalia and Ethopia?

Davis, Manchester,

Lim...seeing as the leaders of neither Zim nor SA make any pretence at democracy, yes they are viewed negatively by the west. Mugabe murders and terrorises his people, with the support including arms, of Mbeki. Do you not view these practices negatively??

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

David...you got it all wrong. The poor people of Zimbabwe are suffering at the hands of Mugabe and his henchmen, who are the only people the sancions will hurt. Get your words in the right order as above, and you will get it right.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

Lim no, you are wrong, I do not view Zim or SA as bad this blanket view that because some people in the country or the leaders are bad the whole place is bad is simplistic. Are all Muslims bad because of a small minority of extremists, are all Americans bad because of Bush, I don’t think so.

Lloyd, London,

puck, Seattle,

Can anyone in this world claim he/she is not a sinner? Raise your hand!. If none, then we should all stop labelling others as evil.
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Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Yes, send in Ban Ki Moon.....he likes shaking the hands of tyrants and dictators, after all that's his job....what else is the UN but a place where corrupt men in smart suits trample on human liberty? Burma? Do I hear...Burma?

Paul Freeman, London, England

Yup Mbeki is a perfect example of spineless leadership and I hesitate to call it leadership.Shame because RSA has some fine examples of strong leaders Malan,Vorster,Susman,Mandela,still Zuma is next and he's Zulu,a strong,proud tribe with warrior traditions,he will be different ,command respect.

Ed Allen, Whitby, Canada

So the UN is considering sanctions against a ruthless dictator again, to punish whom? Of course if they West does anything it's interference, when it does nothing it doesn't care, it can't help but lose.
It would be much more expedient to just hire Mossad to deliver him to The Hague.

David, North Carolina, US

Lim in Malysia.

Zanu PF and SA are comdemned in the eyes of the East. You must understand that Mugabe and Mbeki were always hand in glove. Both old man freedom fighters from the old cold war days then backed by the Soviets. This East versus West stuff is firmly in the past. You must move on now

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

Cut aid to Africa. The entire continent is responsible for the crimes in Zimbabwe.

Richard, Bucharest,

Davis, have you ever been there? I have lived their on and off for 20 years and seen the massive change for the worse, people are not living, they are dying and they need our help to bring this disaster to an end. Potentially the country is rich in food, preciouos metals, gems and coal

James, southampton, england

Why do people not listen to the voice of the majority of Zimbabweans.Too much mileage is being given to the minority view
The majority does not want further sanctions, and external interference in their political processes. Let Zimbabweans alone decide without outside interference.

Davis, Manchester,

if china vetos any sanctions placed on zimbabwe in the UN we must boycott the olympics.

mugabe only undestand force, lets show him some, send the RN and USN on manouvers off east africa, make their little regime sweat abit.
(cant be far from the gulf to the coast of mozambique or SA

will, grimsby, uk

I am allways amazed at those who say that sanctions are bad for Zimbabweans. Please read the news correctly. The sanctions are against Mugabe and a number of criminals in his government. Is it so difficult to understand that?

I'll say it one more time: Sanctions are against Mugabe & Co. Got it?

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

To Mercy Masenda,
If you feel so strongly about the UK/West's usage of Zimbabwe assets why are you in London plundering ours?

Squalker, London, UK

Lloyd, London,

Whatever the world (West) may say, Zimbabwe is still in the hands of Zanu PF (Mr.Mugabe) and SA has still not followed the urging of the West to outright condemn Mr.Mugabe. Thus am I not right in saying that these two countries are viewed "negatively" by the West?
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Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Zimbabwe `s solutions will not be inposed from external forces no matter how powerful is the external factor, by the way God is on Zimbabwe`s side. Zimbabweans should benefit from their resources, right now western mines are digging our minerals and declairing very little & the rest is externalised

Mercy Masenda, London, UK

The single most damning indictment of Mbeki was from Mugabe himself during his inauguration speech when he thanked and praised Mbeki for his support.

Bill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Lim, no SA and Zim are not bad. Their leaders are however atrocious. When human rights are not protected then regardless of the country’s politics it is bad. Bush is bad over Guantanamo, Mugabe is a dictator-BAD- Mbeki is voiceless-BAD- you get it now? Your views are nopt so good either!

Lloyd, London,

Tebedu you should look at Obiang in Equatorial Guinea, the man is a monster but will soon be dead because he has cancer what is frightening is his playboy son who may take over is even worse but they have oil and lots of it. USA will protect them or move in when Obiang dies.

Lloyd, London,

It would do Mugabe well to remember a very wise man once said. ""The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first objective."

Lloyd, London,

This is the only course of action left. Yes the people will suffer, but they will no longer be under the tirranic rule of this monster. You people don't want sanctions? What then? Allow this monster to continue genocide on the people? Kill inocent farmers and seize human rights? He must be stopped!

Joe, London,

There are dictators all over Africa and I am at a loss why the UK is blackning the name of Mugabe and Zim. Some of the worst dictators, genocide perpatrators and human rights violators such as the PM of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi are financed by the British government to kill their own people.

Tebedu Leboch, London, UK

We should leave them to it. China will colonise the African continent and strip the resources then, in a few years time African freedom fighters will start another terror war against Chinese rule because they want their country back. It think though they will have bitten off more than they can chew.

Bob, Cowes, UK

Horace, get a grip!

Patrick Henderson, Coventry,

William, Atlanta, USA

It is just like the white kettle calling the pot white whereas both are the same white (West) Western oil companies are going in. Soon your gas will go down. Cheers, Great scheme invading Iraq.
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Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Africa does not want western interference, great news I say, leave them to it. It will also mean the likes of Geldof can stop his preaching as its obvious they want to go it alone.
Just think, great places like Jodrell Bank can be kept open on the money once destined for Africa!

Pete, St Albans, England

How is it the the British and American governments are condemning Mugabe for his actions? 40 years ago, we saw the same atrocities of Mugabe's Zanu PF, burning, raping, beatings, killings, seen as freedom fighting against Ian Smith's illegal regime. I guess it was ok then!
What hypocrisy!!

Fritz Muser, Lefroy, Canada

Nations that listen to the West are labelled as democratically ruled countries and considered "good" countries. Those that oppose the views of the West are labelled as undemocratic or socialist or communist and considered "bad" countries. Is this right? So is Zimbabwe and SA "bad" countries?
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Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

can we stop all this no oil so west wont do anything nonsense. Zim has gold,diamonds and oil plus plenty of other stuff. Treat the problems in Zim with the seriousness they deserve not fatuious attacks on US/UK policy in iraq, thats yesterdays news. Mugabe is Evil and is no joke for Zims

barry, London, UK

I have to say the comments so far posted here display a remarkable degree of insensitivity.

Sanctions that ground Magabe, his family and his cronies, and freezes their finances, like keyhole surgery, will be highly effective without the collateral damage inevitable with trade sanctions.

Edward O'Brien, Dursley, UK

When white politicians and intellectuals speak on their domestic policies, morality, truth telling and intellectual honesty is at its best. But shift the issue of policy outside their borders and affecting former colonised people, you see intellectual dishonesty and moral relativism at its best.

biira, Rykejavyek,

Your scientific study shows only 90% Horace? Why not 92%?
You cannot seriously be suggesting no pressure at all be applied to stop the carnage. Even Desmond Tutu has called for international intervention. If it's ok with you I'll go with the Nobel Leaureate on this one

Daron, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

The west will pay for its own arrogance. We are the cause of 90% of the world's evils.

Horace, Firenze (Florence), Italy

The sanctions will only hurt the poor people of Zimbabwe who are already suffering as a result of current US and EU sanctions.This incessant interference from the outside world in Zim politics is only going to lead to further polarisation and possibility of plunging the country into a civil war.

Davis, Manchester,

Those without sin may cast the first stone?

puck, Seattle,

Why is the USA leading this push when I have read in these very pages the call for European action? Oh i forgot, we took it to the UN. Here i was worried we might have to actually take action. Do they have oil? We invaded Iraq for oil and my gas keeps going up. We didnt get our moneys worth there!

William, Atlanta, USA