Bush: U.S. may place sanctions on Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- The United States is considering sanctions against Zimbabwean leaders since a U.N. Security Council resolution was vetoed, U.S. President George Bush said.

"I was displeased," the president said Tuesday during a news conference at the White House. "I was disappointed" that Russia and China blocked passage of a resolution in response to the bloody, violent actions taken by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe against opposition supporters during the months leading up to June's runoff presidential election.

"I think the thing we need to do now is analyze whether we can have bilateral sanctions against the Zimbabwean leaders," he said.

The U.S. departments of Treasury and State are working on potential actions to take against the country's leadership, he said. Bush in June called the presidential election a "sham," and called for the imposition of more sanctions against the Mugabe government.

Asked about the International Criminal Court prosecutor wanting to charge Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with genocide and crimes against humanity for atrocities in Darfur, Bush said the United States isn't a member of the ICC, "so we'll see how this plays out."

The United Nations must work with the Sudanese government to "get troops in to save lives," he said.

Bush said rebel groups in Darfur must speak with one voice and Bashar must understand his government faces sanctions "if he doesn't move forward."

"Innocent people being displaced and losing their lives," Bush said.