First draft of UN Zimbabwe sanctions ready, says Britain

United Nations: The United States has completed a draft of UN Security Council sanctions resolution against the Zimbabwe government, Britain's ambassador said on Monday.

"We certainly support increasing the pressure on those in Zimbabwe who are responsible for subverting the elections," British Ambassador John Sawers said.

Council diplomats have said any sanctions would most likely take the form of travel bans, arms embargo and asset freezes for members of Zimbabwe's government.

The US State Department has said that the Security Council will formally discuss sanctions against Zimbabwean officials on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was declared winner in a presidential election in which he was the sole candidate. The election has been widely criticised as a sham.

Sawers acknowledged it was not clear if the Western members of the Security Council would be able to get a sanctions resolution through the council, but said they would try.

"I hope that there will be a climate whereby sanctions can be adopted by the United Nations as well," he said. "That's what we'll be working for."