No U.S. Aid to Zimbabwe Without Policy Changes

WASHINGTON – The United States said Friday it will resume major aid to Zimbabwe's new coalition government only after it proves it is changing President Robert Mugabe's ruinous policies and restoring human rights and democracy to its people.

Until then, said State Department spokesman Robert Wood, U.S. humanitarian aid will continue to those who are suffering, but the government so far is falling short of what is necessary for the United States and many other traditional foreign aid donors.

"We want to see real power-sharing; we want to see real commitment to human rights and democracy," Wood said. Meanwhile, U.S. aid still goes to people suffering from "the horrible impact of some very, very destructive economic policies" under Mugabe.