G8 leaders seek sanctions on Zimbabwean government

G8 leaders meeting in Japan said they would be seeking targeted sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean government over last month\'s polls.



The calls by the leaders of industrialised nations follows a change of position from Russia, which had previously refused to support such sanctions.



The group is also calling for a special United Nations Security Council envoy to report on the situation in Zimbabwe and help mediate.



African leaders earlier told the G8 that they opposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.



South Africa\'s President Thabo Mbeki, the chief regional negotiator reportedly told G8 leaders that UN sanctions could lead to civil war.



Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe won re-election after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change pulled out of a June run-off presidential vote, citing state-sponsored violence.