MEDIA REPORT U. S. ARMS BAN; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000953 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL OIIP SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT U. S. ARMS BAN; HARARE The recent U.S. arms export embargo on Zimbabwe has received significant play in the Zimbabwe's independent newspaper. The government-controlled print and electronic media has, so far, ignored the story. However, the April 19 edition of the country's only independent daily "The Daily News" carries a wire article by Reuters News Agency on page one, under headline "U. S. widens sanctions by slapping ban on sale of defense equipment." The April 18 edition of the independent financial weekly "The Financial Gazette" also printed the Reuters story on page 54, under headline "U. S. bans defense equipment sells to Zimbabwe." WHITEHEAD