Mugabe urges West to lift sanctions

Zimbabwe’s president hopes that a power-sharing agreement with rivals will lead the West to ease sanctions on his country.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Robert Mugabe said he is close to carrying out a political pact with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe said the last stages of talks are over four Cabinet posts, but he added that there are no serious obstacles that could scuttle the deal.

Mugabe said the West should now begin removing sanctions, including travel bans and economic pressures that were tightened after elections this spring that Mugabe is widely accused of rigging.

The Zimbabwean president is scheduled to speak on Thursday to the United Nations General Assembly.—Sapa-AFP