Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Monday said he opposed increasing sanctions against Zimbabwe as a means to punish President Roberto Mugabe for his fraudulent re-election.
Speaking here on the sidelines of a Group of Eight (G8) summit of the world's most developed countries, the premier said he agreed with the position of African counties that ''heavier sanctions could have a negative effect''.
African countries believe this would be ''dangerous'' because it could pave the way for a civil war in Zimbabwe.
It would be much better, they argued, to encourage power-sharing talks between Mugabe and those opposed to his government.
Although the United States and many European countries are in favor of imposing heavy sanctions on Zimbabwe, the G8 summit is expected to put pressure on Zimbabwe's neighbors for an African solution to the crisis.
