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HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said the US effort to impose sanctions on him and his top aides was "repugnant" and "provocative," in his state of the nation address Tuesday.

"Frankly, the action by the American legislators is a bold insult to the people of Zimbabwe, who had to take up arms and die in their thousands, not only to set this country free but also to ensure the full repossession of it," he told parliament.

"We are not at war with the United States, and so the behavior of these legislators is repugnant, provocative, and indeed a gross violation of international law," said a tired-looking Mugabe, who occasionally stumbled over words in the speech.

The US Congress has passed a bill, still to be signed into law, allowing the White House to impose sanctions on Mugabe and any aides found to be behind the political violence that has wracked Zimbabwe for almost two years.

Mugabe also took aim at the European Union, which is also considering sanctions over rights abuses under his government.

He blamed Zimbabwe's "erstwhile colonial oppressor Britain" for masterminding the move toward sanctions, and said "it cannot be the rule of law that is the matter, for here they massacred thousands as they colonized our country and pillaged our resources."

In his speech, Mugabe insisted that violence in the southern African state has subsided -- despite repeated reports to the contrary by rights groups.

"I wish to urge all Zimbabweans to maintain peace and calm as a norm of our society, and proceed to vote in the self-same atmosphere during the forthcoming presidential elections," he said.

The bill would allow for travel bans on government elite and restrictions on their business dealings in the United States.

The EU is pressing Zimbabwe to address problems of violence associated with land reforms, along with thorny issues involving press freedom, judicial independence and election observers at the March presidential poll.

The EU has moved toward imposing sanctions under the Cotonou agreement that governs its relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Nampa-Sapa-AFP

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