Africa News Summary : News Headlines : Discussion Forums

HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has invited foreign observers to monitor presidential elections but will not allow in observers from Britain, which he accuses of backing the opposition, state radio said on Monday.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp said Mugabe told journalists that Harare would welcome observers from the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

But the Zimbabwean leader -- who faces his greatest electoral challenge in 22 years of power on March 9-10 -- said the EU and Commonwealth teams should not include Britain.

"Comrade Mugabe said these organisations had been invited... But Britain would not be included in both the EU and the Commonwealth team," ZBC said after Mugabe's meeting with reporters from state-owned media.

The president's office was not immediately available to comment.

Britain said on Monday Mugabe had made life "wretched" in Zimbabwe and should be punished with tough sanctions if he refused to allow in election observers or halt his crackdown on free speech.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he would urge a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday to back "targeted" sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle, such as travel bans and freezes on assets held abroad.

But the foreign ministers was expected to stop short of approving full economic sanctions such as suspending development aid, for fear of harming Zimbabwe's poor.

On Wednesday, Commonwealth foreign ministers will gather in London for talks on Zimbabwe's suspension from the 54-nation group, which is mainly made up of former British colonies. Nampa-Reuters 1506 280102 WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 281504)

•  Big Brother Africa 3: Morris does a Lazarus! He's alive, he is too!!
•  Morris does a Lazarus! He's alive, he is too!!
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Housemates get racy, Olympics vibe up house