SA denies Sarkozy influence in sanction vote

By Thami Dickson
The South African government has dismissed reports that it was swayed by French President Nicholas Sarkozy to vote for a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution that imposed further sanctions against Iran.

On Monday the government supported the sanctions after aggressively opposing them in the lead-up to voting day. South Africa's Ambassador to the UN, Dumisani Khumalo, says this had nothing to do with Sarkozy's recent state visit to South Africa, during which he urged South Africa to support further sanctions against Iran.

In the aftermath of a dramatic Security Council vote to impose sanctions against Iran, tensions remain very high at the UN. Some countries are accusing the council of double standards and of allowing itself to be a tool for advancing the questionable agendas of superpowers. The council is threatening to take further steps if Iran does not comply with its demands. Iran has been given three months to comply.