CELEAN JACOBSON

JOHANNESBURG: Some 200 opposition supporters mobbed the US Embassy in Zimbabwe yesterday to seek refuge while the United States said it expects the UN to vote next week on sanctions against President Robert Mugabe.

Loyalists of Mugabe, whose unopposed re-election last week has been scorned by world leaders, have reportedly attacked supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Widespread state-sponsored violence had led the party's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to pull out of the presidential runoff.

Yesterday, people with small bundles of possessions milled outside the US mission in Harare. Among them were mothers with small children. One elderly man had a broken leg. It was not immediately clear if others had injuries.

US Ambassador James McGee said the group was from the opposition headquarters in Harare, which had become a refuge. He said embassy officials were working with humanitarian organisations to find accommodation for the group.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the group was outside the building's security perimeter.

"There has been a high increase in abductions, beatings and rapes since Zanu-PF claimed it had won the election' with a resounding victory," the opposition said.

At least 80 opposition supporters were killed before the June 27 runoff, and the opposition says more than 10 have been killed since.

The news came as the US said it expects the UN Security Council to vote next week on sanctions against Mugabe and top aides in response to the election crisis.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said after a closed-door council session he formally submitted the US-drafted resolution, which also calls for an arms embargo against Zimbabwe, to the full 15-nation council.-AP