New York  - The UN Security Council met Friday to decide whether to take action on a draft resolution that would impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and other sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and his associates.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters that the draft's language was "unacceptable" to him and his colleagues, whom he did not name.

Russia, Vietnam, South Africa and Libya had voiced objections to the sanctions, preferring political pressure on Mugabe to hold negotiations with political opponents to form a government of unity following the debacle in the presidential elections.

"As far as the language of the draft resolution is concerned, we cannot accept it," Wang said. But he declined to say whether he would veto if the draft were to be put to a vote.

"We think that it is for the political parties to enter into a dialogue to discuss and sort out their differences," he said.

Other diplomats made no comments as they entered the council chamber for a closed-door session.

In Washington earlier Friday, the United States said that any country opposing the resolution "will be on the wrong side of history."

"I don't see how anybody, anybody, any country in good conscience can vote against this resolution after witnessing what has gone in Zimbabwe," said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Mugabe won a runoff election on June 27 after his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the race, fearing for the safety of supporters who had been subjected to violent repression in the run- up to the vote.

The United States, Europe and some African countries have rejected the election results. (dpa)