Zimbabwe has denounced calls for UN sanctions over disputed polls as "a colonial and racist campaign".

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the issue did not belong on the UN Security Council's agenda as Zimbabwe was not a threat to world peace.

The US and the UK are pushing for a travel ban and assets freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his allies, and an arms embargo.

Meanwhile, leaders of South Africa's ruling party have met Mr Mugabe.

South Africa sees a government of national unity as a more realistic solution to Zimbabwe's crisis.

Bail conditions eased

Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says there are no details of the president's meeting with two African National Congress (ANC) officials in the capital, Harare.

But the ANC Deputy-President Kgalema Motlanthe repeated the African Union's call for dialogue between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Their meeting came as the High Court eased bail conditions on MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti to allow him to travel to South Africa for proposed crisis talks on forming a unity government.

Mr Biti's lawyer told the court that opposition talks with Zanu-PF were due to begin in Pretoria this week.

South Africa's leader Thabo Mbeki, the regionally appointed mediator, was in Zimbabwe over the weekend to meet the two parties.

But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted the talks, saying meeting Mr Mugabe at State House would mean recognising his legitimacy as president.

The MDC says more than 100 of its supporters have been killed since it won elections in March, some 5,000 are missing and more than 200,000 have been forced from their homes.

It pulled out of a presidential run-off last month, citing state-sponsored violence and leaving Mr Mugabe unopposed.

The UN Security Council is due to meet in New York to discuss a draft resolution on Zimbabwe despite several African leaders saying they oppose sanctions, including South Africa.

Mr Mbeki reportedly told G8 leaders earlier this week that UN sanctions could lead to civil war.

South Africa is currently on the UN Security Council but does not have the power of veto.


Source: BBC