7 EU countries appeal to Zim
01/04/2008 11:35  - (SA)  

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Riot police deployed in Zim Mounting concern over delays Zanu-PF takes a knock EU urges Zim to publish results Zanu-PF, MDC 'neck-and-neck' Mugabe a 'disgrace to Africa'

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Paris - Foreign ministers of seven European Union countries late on Monday called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to "swiftly" announce all the results of the weekend elections.

In a press release issued after an informal meeting here, the foreign ministers of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom said: "We addressed with particular concern the situation in Zimbabwe after the general elections held on March 29th 2008."

The ministers said: "We call on the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to swiftly announce all official election results, especially the results of the presidential election."

They went on: "The future of the Zimbabwean people depends on the credibility and the transparency of the electoral process. We note with interest and admiration the reports from Zimbabwean civil society groups of specific results from polling stations around the country.

"We look forward to working with democratically elected Zimbabwean authorities, who will be expected to improve human rights and the rule of law for the good of the Zimbabwean people."

Riot police patrol Harare

Earlier, Zimbabwe opposition parties accused officials of sitting on the outcome of Saturday's elections to help President Robert Mugabe cling to power, suggesting possible vote-rigging.

Zimbabwe's opposition claimed a clear lead over Mugabe and his party, as pressure mounted for the swift announcement of full results from presidential and parliamentary polls.

Riot police patrolled the capital, Harare, as the first official returns trickled in, placing Mugabe's Zanu-PF party slightly behind challenger Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the legislative election.

The opposition charged that delays in releasing full results from Saturday's ballots were part of a bid to help Mugabe prolong his 28-year rule as foreign governments and an observer mission called for the process to be speeded up.

With France poised to take over the rotating EU presidency in July, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner gave an informal dinner for his peers to exchange views on the major points expected to arise during the second half of 2008.

The ministry said on its website that further informal dinners of this type would be held for the other EU foreign ministers to express their views.

- AFP

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