The UN Security Council remained divided on the issue of Zimbabwe on Tuesday as Western powers pressed for targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his top aides.

The United States circulated a draft resolution last week, urging the 15-member body to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and freeze the asset of Mugabe and 11 other senior officials and restrict them from traveling abroad.

On Tuesday, the council heard a briefing by UN Deputy Secretary- General Asha-Rose Migiro on the latest developments in Zimbabwe before going into closed consultations over the U.S. draft.

Push for early vote

Emerging from a council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday that he expects the council to vote on the draft resolution as soon as this week.

The U.S. envoy said that enough votes have been garnered for the draft to be adopted.

"Absent a veto, which we do not anticipate, the votes are there to move forward on this resolution," he said. "I expect a vote on this resolution this week as soon as possible."

France's UN Ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, also expressed hope for a vote this week, saying that the cosponsors have secured nine of the 15 votes needed to pass the resolution.

"It's obvious there is global support for tougher measures," Ripert said.