Russia, China veto UN sanctions on Zimbabwe
By John Heilprin 
July 11, 2008
The Associated Press
Original Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVtMWxTbVQm_La3Ic3ONH2Yu-sZwD91RT1N80 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVtMWxTbVQm_La3Ic3ONH2Yu-sZwD91RT1N80
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China vetoed proposed sanctions on Zimbabwe Friday, rejecting U.S. efforts to step up punitive measures against its authoritarian regime linked to a rash of violence surrounding a disputed presidential election.
Western powers mustered nine votes, the minimum needed to gain approval in the 15-nation council. But the resolution failed because of the action by two of the five veto-wielding members.
The other three members with veto power, the U.S., Britain and France, argued sanctions were needed to respond to the violence and intimidation linked to Zimbabwe's recent and widely discredited presidential election.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said sanctions would have taken the U.N. beyond its mandate to deal with threats to international peace and security.