Yet another demonstration of double standards! WHITE farmers! Yes, they matter. Got nothing to do with democracy or human rights. Regards, Kabir. SOUTHERN REGION NEWS African diplomats fail to stop US sanctions Bill on Zimbabwe HARARE, December 06 -- African diplomats accredited to the US unsuccessfully petitioned the House of Representatives Tuesday, against passing a proposed law that imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe for alleged violation of human rights and suppression of the opposition. Under the proposed Zimbabwe Democracy Bill, the US will impose a range of mainly political sanctions against Zimbabwe, including a travel ban on President Robert Mugabe to the US, ifhis country does not improve its human rights record and ensure a free and fair presidential election next year. African diplomats representing the African Union (AU), said they were alarmed the US was ignoring diplomatic moves on the continent, led by Nigeria, to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, sparked by Harare's controversial land reforms. Zimbabwe denies US charges, saying the proposed sanctions are part of a plot by the big powers to thwart the land reforms, under which Harare is taking over idle farms from white farmers to resettle landless peasants. "We wish to add that Africa's opposition to any form of sanctions against Zimbabwe was repeated at the OAU (AU) 37th Ordinary Summit in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001, and at the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Blantyre, Malawi in August 2001," the African diplomats said in Tuesday's petition. They argued that US sanctions on Zimbabwe would complicate an agreement struck in September between the Southern African country and its former colonial power Britain, under which London pledged to mobilise international financial support for the land reforms in exchange for an end to seizure of white-owned farms. Despite the plea, the US House of Representatives went ahead to pass the Bill. - Pana <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>