HARARE - Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge slammed the European Union and the Commonwealth for trying to "perpetuate an archaic colonial relationship," the official ZIANA news agency said Thursday.

The statement came a day after the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) voiced concern over President Robert Mugabe's crackdown on political opponents ahead of March presidential elections.

"It is clear to us that the manner in which the situation in this country is being treated by the CMAG and the EU is an attempt to perpetuate an archaic colonial relationship between Europe and Africa," Mudenge said.

"We have no dialogue, but a monologue, for although we have raised our own concerns about external interference, we have received neither a response nor an acknowledgement," he said.

Mudenge's comments were the first official government reaction to an EU demand Monday for Zimbabwe to agree by February 3 to allow a European observer team monitor polls on March 9-10.

If Harare refuses to accept the observers, EU foreign ministers said they would apply "targetted sanctions" against Mugabe's regime.

Mudenge was speaking at the start of Southern African Development Community (SADC) task force meeting in Harare on Zimbabwe's crisis.

The minister did not clearly state whether Harare had accepted the EU ultimatum.

Mugabe's government has come under increasing international pressure ahead of the election over the sometimes deadly campaign of intimidation led by his supporters against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). - Nampa-AFP