U.S. sanctions Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration Friday imposed travel sanctions on senior members of Zimbabwe's government, citing the country's political and humanitarian crisis and the failure of its government to support the rule of law.

The sanctions are effective immediately. They follow a similar measure imposed by the European Union on Monday.

The U.S. sanctions prevent entry into the United States by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, unnamed senior members of his government and others "who formulate, implement, or benefit from policies that undermine or injure Zimbabwe's democratic institutions or impede the transition to a multi-party democracy."

Mugabe has come under increasing international pressure amid complaints of human rights violations, a downturn in the economy and his "land reform" program, which allowed the seizure and redistribution of white-owned farms.

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Violence has increased as the March 9-10 presidential election approaches. Mugabe will face his fiercest opponent in 22 years in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and there also have been fears at home and abroad that the election is rigged.

"President Bush is concerned about the credibility of the upcoming election," a White House statement said, "and believes that the campaign is being marred by political violence and intimidation and is taking place under restrictive election and media laws."

In January, Zimbabwe's parliament gave the government wide powers to clamp down on the opposition and the news media, and banned independent election monitors.

Bush's statement cited the recent expulsion from Zimbabwe of Pierre Schori, the head of the European Union election observer mission, as "yet another indicator that conditions for a free and fair election are being undermined" by the government.

While the 30-member EU observer team had been allowed to work inside the country, Schori was prevented from doing so because he is Swedish. Mugabe's government had previously excluded Sweden and five other nations from scrutinizing the election.

Schori then entered the country on a tourist visa, but he was asked to leave last week after the government claimed he was getting involved in the election monitoring.

In protest, the EU issued a visa ban on Mugabe and his top 19 officials and froze their overseas assets. Mugabe denounced those steps as "organized economic terrorism."

Bush's statement said Zimbabwe still has time to end political violence and intimidation before the election "to allow for a legitimate vote."

"The United States extends our friendship and support to the people of Zimbabwe," the statement said. "President Bush hopes that soon the people of Zimbabwe again will enjoy political and economic freedom."