WASHINGTON, March 19 (Reuters) - The United States rejected on Thursday Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's call to ease sanctions on the impoverished African country, saying its unity government had "a long way to go" before this could happen. "We have not yet seen sufficient evidence from the government of Zimbabwe that they are firmly and irrevocably on a path to inclusive and effective governance as well as respect for human rights and the rule of law," U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. "That government has a long way to go before we will consider easing sanctions." [ID:nLJ279090] The United States has imposed targeted steps against Zimbabwe, including financial and visa sanctions against selected individuals, a ban on transfers of military items and a suspension of non-humanitarian aid. Wood made clear that the United States was not ready to remove such "targeted" sanctions or to provide any general aid package for now, but would continue to give humanitarian aid. The unity government formed by Mugabe and his rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is seeking to rebuild the country's shattered economy after years of hyperinflation and decline blamed on Mugabe's mismanagement and authoritarian rule. (Editing by Vicki Allen)
Cholera patients hold cups of sugar solution as they rest inside a ward Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare March 18 2009. Zimbabwe's ongoing cholera epidemic has infected about 90,000 people and killed ...
