Zimbabwe: EU Suspends 'Majority' Of Sanctions

The European Union has suspended the majority of its sanctions against Zimbabwe after it held a "peaceful, succesful and credible" constitutional referendum.

The decision removes restrictions against 81 people and eight firms, but President Robert Mugabe and two companies, including a state-run diamond miner, remain on the list.

In a statement, the EU said it recognised  "the importance of the referendum and the adoption of a new constitution as a major step".

The new constitution, which was approved by nearly 95% of voters, limits the powers of the presidency after 33 years of rule by Mr Mugabe.

More than half of the country's six million voters took part in the ballot, which was backed by both Mr Mugabe and and his main political rival and prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe joined a power-sharing deal in 2008

The result paved the way forward for presidential and parliamentary elections expected to to be held this year which are being seen as a showdown between the two men.

Among the measures in the new constitution is a two-term limit for the president. However, it will not apply retroactively, so Mugabe could still theoretically rule for the next decade.

The new constitution and referendum were conditions of the power-sharing deal signed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai after disputed elections in 2008.

Although the referendum passed without any problems, critics seized on the arrest of four staff members from Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party and a leading human rights lawyer as evidence that Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF is trying to intimidating rivals ahead of the elections.

Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was released by authorities on Monday.

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