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UK sanctions dismissed

    JOHANNESBURG

    Zimbabwe has dismissed the impact of a British ban on the sale of military equipment and police vehicles imposed in protest over the government’s crackdown on the opposition and handling of the land dispute.

    “We are surprised by that decision as we were not buying weapons from them anyway,” Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende was reported as saying on Thursday. He added that new suppliers could be found for the air force’s Hawk jet fighters and Land Rovers for the police.

    Meanwhile, in an interview with Reuters, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said that the British sanctions imposed on Wednesday were “nothing serious”. Asked if tougher measures should be imposed, he said: “Sanctions should be the last resort (but) if the government declares a state of emergency and rules by decree, then at that time there is no other option.” Media reports said on Thursday that the death toll in Zimbabwe’s continuing political violence has risen to 18.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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