The US said today it would impose sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's government, a day after the European Union took similar measures for Zimbabwe refusing to let election monitors do their job.
A State department spokesman said Washington was looking at imposing financial sanctions on Zimbabwe, as Europe had already done in a move he said had won strong US support.
The US sanctions will be imposed in line with domestic legislation which allows for targetted sanctions against people identified as responsible for political violence in Zimbabwe, he added.
The first group of European Union election observers pulled out of Zimbabwe today.
Thirteen of the 26 observers from Ireland, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and Austria left on a British Airways flight to Johannesburg this afternoon, with the rest due to leave tonight.
Tension is rising in Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe will face the biggest challenge to his 22-year rule from opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in the March 9-10 presidential election.
Zimbabwe reacted defiantly to the EU decision to impose a visa ban and a freeze on the overseas assets of Mr Mugabe and 19 close associates, saying it amounted to economic terrorism.
The 15 EU foreign ministers imposed the sanctions yesterday after hearing a report from Mr Pierre Schori, the head of the EU observer mission who was expelled by Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Mr Schori, a Swedish diplomat ordered to leave after being accused of political arrogance, said he had recommended sanctions because law and order was unravelling in the country.
The EU sanctions also include an embargo on the supply of arms and technical advice and of equipment which could be used for internal repression in Zimbabwe.
Mr Mugabe's information minister, Mr Jonathan Moyo, accused the EU of hiding behind the cover of democracy to protect white minority interests in the former British colony.