Zimbabwe summons US envoy in protest over sanctions on diplomat

Zimbabwe on Friday summoned the US ambassador to Harare to protest US travel sanctions imposed its envoy to Tanzania over his alleged role in a military crackdown that left six civilians dead last year.

Anselem Sanyatwe, former commander of the presidential guard, is accused of commanding soldiers that opened fire on unarmed demonstrators protesting a delay in the release of last year's election results.

The foreign affairs ministry said in statement that it had "summoned" the US ambassador to Harare Brian Nichols "to express the displeasure" of the government following the US sanctions.

"The decision by Washington is regrettable as it comes at a time when government is intensifying the implementation of political and economic reforms," including recommendations by a commission of inquiry into the killings, the ministry said.

The US flagged Sanyatwe on its sanctions list, barring him from entering the country over what it called "his involvement in gross violations of human ...