UK backs plan to ease Zim sanctions

LONDON — Britain will support European Union moves to relax sanctions against Zimbabwe in an attempt to encourage free and fair elections in the country.

The controversial move came as the UK government was urged to tighten sanctions against companies accused of using profits from “blood diamonds” to prop up the regime of Robert Mugabe.

Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, told MPs on Tuesday Britain would propose that, if a peaceful and credible referendum on reforms is held ahead of “free and fair” elections due next year, the EU should suspend its ban on direct development aid, its asset freeze and its travel ban on all but a small core of people around Mugabe.

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