Zimbabwe's neighbouring countries have not allowed a Chinese ship to unload arms delivery for the crisis-hit country as the regime of President Mugabe is accused of increasing violence against opposition.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa urged African states Tuesday to bar the An Yue Jiang from their waters, saying unloading and transporting of its cargo of weapons to Zimbabwe could deepen the crisis there following elections in late March, VOA reported.

The United States has also stepped up diplomatic pressure to keep the weapons from getting to landlocked Zimbabwe.

Critics of Mugabe say that the revelation there was a Chinese ship carrying small arms for Zimbabwe has confirmed Mugabe indeed declared war on his own people.

The shipment contains millions of bullets for AK- 47 assault rifles as well as mortar bombs and rocket- propelled grenades.

"Those weapons were not going to be used on mosquitos but clearly meant to butcher innocent civilians," Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said in a statement.

MDC claims war veterans and Zanu PF youth militia have gone on rampage in rural areas after the presidential elections, beating up MDC supporters, torching their houses, and displacing people.

No official results have been released after the elections, although they were held on March 29, with MDC saying their candidate Morgan Tsangvirai defeated Mugabe gaining 67% of the vote.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!