Sanctions against Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and his regime must be stepped up, Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock has told the European Union.

As Mr Mugabe attended a United Nations conference in Italy, despite an EU visa ban, Mrs Kinnock called on European nations to increase the pressure for change in his country.

She said: "Mugabe is using these UN meetings to parade himself in Europe in defiance of our ban, while the people in his country suffer because of his policies."

Mrs Kinnock said the EU must "keep up the pressure" and extend the impact of its sanctions, while continuing to deliver aid to the needy in Zimbabwe.

"We must not confuse our campaign against Mugabe with the need to maintain humanitarian assistance," she warned.

'Sheer hypocrisy'

Accusing the Zimbabwean president of "cocking a snook" at the EU, Mrs Kinnock said Mr Mugabe had travelled to Europe by exploiting the fact that delegates to UN meetings are not subject to visa restrictions.

Policies of Mugabe have helped to make the threat of widespread starvation a reality

Glenys Kinnock

She said the rules could not be changed, but added: "We can display our refusal to accept his regime and what it is doing in Zimbabwe by extending visa restrictions beyond the current 20 members of his government, to include other ministers and their family members."

She also questioned his role at the UN conference.

"It is sheer hypocrisy for members of the Zimbabwean political regime to be in the EU discussing international efforts to ease poverty and hunger when the actions and policies of Mugabe have helped to make the threat of widespread starvation a reality for many people in Zimbabwe."

'No shopping'

Responding to claims that Mrs Mugabe had been given permission to visit Spain, Mrs Kinnock said such trips should be banned.

She also called for Mr Mugabe and his entourage to be deported from Italy as soon as the conference ended.

"There must be no shopping time or tourism," Mrs Kinnock said.