Zimbabwe's government thanked on Saturday the countries that blocked UN sanctions against its regime, and particularly South African President Thabo Mbeki for having refused to yield to Western pressure.

"We would like to thank countries that supported us at the United Nations and we would like to tell them that we would not dissapoint them as we would address our problems ourselves," Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said.

"We would like to thank President Thabo Mbeki, who is a leader par exellence as he has not yielded to international pressure and to the machinations of the West led by Britain and United States," Ndlovu told AFP.

China and Russia on Friday vetoed targeted UN sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe over his disputed re-election.

South Africa, along with Libya and Vietnam, voted against the US draft which received the support of nine of the UN Security Council 15 members.

AFP