MEDIA REPORT: PRESIDENT BUSH SANCTIONS MUGABE

UNCLAS HARARE 000497 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR AND AF/PDPA DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS INFO AF/S RAYNOR NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EFIN KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT: PRESIDENT BUSH SANCTIONS MUGABE GOVERNMENT; HARARE Two mainstream newspapers have carried articles reporting on President George W. Bush's March 7, 2003 executive order imposing financial sanctions on 77 individuals linked to President Mugabe's government. The independent weekly "The Standard" broke the story in the March 9 edition. The paper carried the article on page two under headline "U. S. Freezes Mugabe and cronies' assets. The March 10 edition of the pro-government "Daily Mirror" picked up a Reuters article and published it on page two under headline "U. S. sanctions are racist, says govt official." The name of the quoted Government of Zimbabwe official was not revealed in the article. So far the government-controlled print and electronic media appear to have ignored the story. However, Post will continue to monitor the media for additional placements or editorial commentaries and will report accordingly. SULLIVAN