President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that the current U.S. sanctions on Zimbabwe will be extended for one year.

"I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions," Obama said in a statement released on White House website.

The U.S. declared sanctions to the African country on March 6, 2003, blocking the property of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and some other persons.

On November 22, 2005, and July 25, 2008, the U.S. expanded the sanctions to additional persons.

Relations between the U.S. and Zimbabwe have soured in recent years, with former U.S. President George W. Bush and his administration accusing Robert Mugabe's government of rigging parliamentary and presidential elections since 2000.

The U.S. government in February welcomed the inauguration of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister of Zimbabwe while urging President Mugabe to show he is sharing power with opposition leaders.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2009)