Zimbabwe rejects EU poll ultimatum

Mudenge says Zimbabwe could have considered offer but not demands

Zimbabwe has rejected a European Union ultimatum to decide whether to allow EU observers in the country during next year's presidential elections.

Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge rejected the ultimatum after a meeting in Brussels with Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel.

I told him that Zimbabwe does not accept demands, we are a sovereign and independent state

Stan Mudenge, Foreign Minister

The EU are reported to be asking for a pre-election commission as well as the deployment of observers.

Mr Michel made clear at the meeting he wanted an answer by Sunday.

Impose sanctions

But Mr Mudenge told a news conference on his arrival back home that Zimbabwe would have considered an offer for observers but not an ultimatum.

He added: "Zimbabwe does not accept demands, we are a sovereign and independent state."

EU foreign ministers are to meet in Luxembourg next week, and correspondents say the EU might well now impose sanctions on President Robert Mugabe's government for failing to address human rights concerns.

Accusations

Mr Mugabe faces presidential elections in April.

Last month, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe accused the governing party of cheating in an important local election.

There have also been widespread allegations of intimidation levelled against Mr Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).