Washington, D.C. ? President Bush signed an executive order on Friday to expand sanctions against individuals and organizations in Zimbabwe associated with what he calls the “illegitimate” regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Bush’s action was meant to send a strong message that the U.S. will not permit individuals closely linked to Mugabe to operate in U.S. financial markets. “No regime should ignore the will of its own people and calls from the international community without consequences,” Bush said in a statement.

The president said he took steps to extend sanctions as a result of the Mugabe regime’s continued “politically motivated violence” and the African leader’s decision to disregard calls from the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to halt the attacks.