Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe called on Thursday for the lifting of what he called "illegally imposed sanctions" on his regime, vowing to co-operate with all countries which respect his country's sovereignty.

In the wake of his power-sharing deal with his opposition, Mugabe told the UN General Assembly: "I would like to appeal to those members of the international community who have imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe to lift them so that my country can focus, undisturbed, on his economic turn-around."

Mugabe paid tribute to former South African president Thabo Mbeki for his crucial mediation that led to the 15 September power-sharing deal in Harare.

Noting that effects of climate change have included recurrent droughts and floods over the past seven years, he said the "illegal, unilaterally-imposed sanctions" on his country "have hindered Zimbabwe's efforts to increase food production."

A 'vindictive' approach

"We deplore the vindictive approach which often is characterised by self-righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of militarily stronger states," Mugabe added.

The United Nations and the European Union have slapped targeted sanctions, including travel and financial restrictions, on the Harare regime, arguing that Mugabe has crushed human rights and ruined his country's once prosperous economy.

Zimbabwe's economy has been in decline for a decade with sky-high unemployment, devastating food shortages, crippling poverty and the world's highest rate of inflation.

Mugabe and his prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai signed their peace deal on 15 September after months of tough negotiations.

The deal was clinched after the world community slammed the Mugabe's re-election last June as unfair. Tsvangirai pushed Mugabe into second place in the March first round vote, but he pulled out of the June run-off vote after a wave of deadly attacks against his supporters.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a smaller MDC opposition faction have yet to agree on who will hold certain key ministries in the new cabinet.

AFP