EU Widens Sanctions against Mugabe Associates

The European Union has widened sanctions against associates of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in order to pressure him to share power with the opposition. According to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the EU countries have added 37 individuals and four companies associated with Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party to their sanction list, increasing the number from 131 to 172. Meanwhile, negotiations towards the formation of a unity government between ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are scheduled to begin on Thursday. [PE]