UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Reuters) - Russia and China vetoed on Friday a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe for holding a violent presidential poll that was boycotted by the opposition candidate.

The resolution would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African country and financial and travel restrictions on President Robert Mugabe and 13 other officials. It would also have called for a U.N. special envoy for Zimbabwe to be appointed.

Nine countries voted for the U.S.-drafted resolution, five -- including veto-holding Russia and China -- opposed it and one abstained in the 15-nation council.

The result represented a failure by the Western bloc to induce Russia and China at least to abstain because of the gravity of the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Opponents of the resolution, who also included South Africa, Libya and Vietnam, argued that the situation was not a threat to international peace and security worthy of a council resolution. They said talks in South Africa between Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties should be given a chance.

But British Ambassador John Sawers told the council it had "failed to shoulder its responsibility to do what it can to prevent a national tragedy deepening and spreading its effects across southern Africa."

Voting for the resolution were the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Burkina Faso, Panama and Costa Rica. Indonesia abstained. (Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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