United Nations ? Zimbabwe is warning that sanctions under consideration by the U.N. Security Council could push the African nation toward civil war.

Zimbabwe’s U.N. mission also says the punitive measures proposed by the U.S. and Britain against President Robert Mugabe’s government could turn Zimbabwe into another Somalia.

Those sanctions, the mission told the 15-nation council on Thursday, would lead to the removal of Zimbabwe’s “effective government and, most probably, start a civil war in the country.”

Western powers are pushing for a vote this week on an arms embargo and financial freeze on Mugabe and 11 other officials in his government.