Miliband blasts Zimbabwe sanctions veto

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said people in the beleaguered African state would find the result of the vote in the United Nations Security Council "incomprehensible".

"I am very disappointed that the UN Security Council should have failed to pass a strong and clear resolution on Zimbabwe," he said in a statement.

"In particular, it will appear incomprehensible to the people of Zimbabwe that Russia, which committed itself at the G8 only a few days ago to take further steps including introducing financial and other sanctions, should today stand in the way of timely and decisive security council action.

"Nor will they understand the Chinese vote."

The vote is a particular blow for Gordon Brown, who thought he had gained sufficient backing for a security council resolution imposing sanctions at this week's G8 summit in Japan, attended by both Russia and China.

Downing Street has described the result as a "missed opportunity" for the people of Zimbabwe.

"Dictators like Robert Mugabe do not give up power because millions of their own accord. They do not give up power because millions of people vote for another candidate. They give up power because they are left with no choice," A No 10 spokesman said.

"That is why the internationicular blow for Gordon Brown, who thought he had gained sufficient backing for a security council resolution imposing sanctions at this week's G8 summit in Japan, attended by both Russia and China.al community has to work hard to apply pressure to Mr Mugabe to acknowledge the will of his people and accept a transitional government that reflects the outcome of the first elections in March."

The draft resolution drawn up by Britain and the United States called for international travel bans on Mugabe and 13 other leading regime figures and a freeze on their financial assets held abroad.