The United States has welcomed the European Union sanctions against Zimbabwe and says it is preparing a similar package of measures. 

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Tuesday Washington is moving forward on travel restrictions on individuals who, he says, benefit from politics that undermine Zimbabwe's democratic institutions. 

However, Mr. Boucher said a final decision has not been made. He also said Washington is considering financial sanctions against Zimbabwe, depending on the results of Zimbabwe's presidential elections scheduled for March 9 and 10. 

The European Union imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle Monday after his government expelled the head of an EU election observer team and barred observers from six EU countries. 

Mr. Mugabe and 19 of his close associates are banned from visiting EU nations, and their assets in the bloc will be frozen. The EU also decided to withdraw all of its election observers in Zimbabwe. 

Zimbabwe's government reacted defiantly to the EU sanctions. 

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo called the EU decision a "hostile action," and he vowed that Zimbabwe will defend its independence and sovereignty. 

Nigeria and South Africa are standing by Mr. Mugabe calling the EU sanctions "unfortunate" and a "mistake". 

A spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Tendai Biti, said the EU decision on sanctions should have been made several months ago. 

Political violence, most of it blamed on Mr. Mugabe's supporters, has surged in Zimbabwe ahead of the elections. More than 20 members of the opposition have been reported killed in recent weeks. 

President Mugabe faces his toughest challenge yet in the upcoming election and accuses the foreign media of backing opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

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